Vaccine for Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Women

The purpose of this study is determine whether a vaginal mucosal vaccine given to women with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections can reduce the number of infections occurring in a six-month study period, as compared to placebo treatment.

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect approximately 10% of women in the United States. Since antibiotic prophylaxis is not always effective, alternate treatments need to be developed. One such treatment would be immunization with a vaccine containing bacteria known to cause these infections. The objective of the study is to immunize susceptible women with inactivated bacteria contained in a vaginal suppository and to monitor the rates of reinfection compared to a group of women treated with placebo suppositories. Each group of patients will receive a total of six suppositories in the first four-months of the six-month study during which all UTIs and side effects will be recorded. The infection rates between vaccine- and placebo-treated women will be statistically analyzed to determine vaccine efficacy.

Inclusion Criteria: Three or more urinary tract infections in the previous year Exclusion Criteria: Neurogenic bladder Interstitial cystitis Urinary diversion Kidney stones Indwelling catheter

Uehling DT, Hopkins WJ, Beierle LM, Kryger JV, Heisey DM. Vaginal mucosal immunization for recurrent urinary tract infection: extended phase II clinical trial. J Infect Dis. 2001 Mar 1;183 Suppl 1:S81-3. doi: 10.1086/318839. No abstract available.