UTI Vaccine Mouth Spray Could Prevent Infection Recurrence up to 9 Years, Study Reveals

According to a new study, over 50% of patients who used the UTI vaccine mouth spray did not get infected for up to 9 years.

urine — (Photo: Pixabay / Frolicsomeply)

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) refer to infections of any specific part of the urinary system, which covers the urethra, bladder, kidneys, and ureters. Infections usually involve the bladder and the urethra, part of the lower urinary tract.

If the infection stays in the bladder, it could be annoying and painful. However, serious health complications could happen if the infection reaches the kidneys.

In comparison to men, women have a greater risk of getting UTI.

Though the infection may not always cause symptoms, there are cases where people with the infection could experience a burning feeling as they pee, a strong urge to pee that does not leave, cloud-looking urine, frequent urination, peeing in small amounts, strong-smelling pee, urine that looks cola-colored, bright pink, or red, or pelvic pain (among women).

ALSO READ: Can You Get a UTI From Holding Your Pee? Here's What Happens If You Regularly Hold Urine

UTI Vaccine Mouth Spray

The vaccine, named Uromune, has a pineapple flavor and has been tested in one study with no placebo group and one finished gold-standard clinical trial. The two studies suggest that, for over 50% of participants, the UTI vaccine aided in warding off recurring infections for months. Though further testing is necessary for approval, it appears to show promise.

Jennifer Rohn, a renal medicine research specialist from the University College London who did not participate in the studies, explains that vaccines could be a game-changer for several people who face long-term UTIs and who do not have anyone else to go to for help.

Several individuals who get the infection repeatedly receive preventive antibiotic prescriptions to reduce their future infection risk. However, studies have shown that strong antibiotic reliance has fueled the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Moreover, antibiotics can wipe out the body's helpful bacteria and those that cause disease.

Such kinds of UTI vaccines could provide an alternative approach. Uromune, specifically, contains a combination of four bacteria that usually account for UTIs that recur. These bacteria are Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis. Dr. Glenn Werneburg, a Cleveland Clinic physician-scientist who did not participate in the study, explains that these account for 88% of UTIs.

For the Uromune vaccine, such bacteria are inactivated by heat. This is done so that their surface proteins remain intact and can be identified by the immune system.

It is designed to be sprayed below the tongue, as exposure to the roof of the mouth, the tonsils, and the base of the tongue could lead to a robust immune response in tissue mucus.

The vaccine was tested first in a UK-based trial involving 75 female participants. It involved a control group that did not use the mouth spray. This study found that 59% of the women who used the mouth spray daily for three months did not experience any UTIs the next year. All of these participants had a history of experiencing at least three UTIs within a year before they tried the vaccine out.

In the study's second phase, nearly 40 of the study's original participants were followed up, while 17 men were added. For this group, they observed that among 48 participants, the vaccine appeared protective nine years after post-administration. The participants stayed UTI-free throughout that period and did not experience any adverse effects.

The average period of being UTI-free for the whole group was equivalent to roughly 4.5 years or 55 months.

Study findings were presented on April 6 at the European Association of Urology Congress in Paris.

In addition, the vaccine underwent a gold-standard clinical trial involving a placebo group. As part of the study, 58% and 56% of the women who sprayed for six and three months stayed UTI-free for up to nine months, respectively, compared to just 25% of the participants from the placebo group.

Dr. Werneburg expresses excitement over the vaccine as it could serve as a great alternative for the patients.

Moving Forward

The two trials had limitations. For one, the vaccine only underwent testing for UTIs that were not complicated, which means that the infections did not involve the kidneys, fever, catheters, or other factors that could complicate things.

Dr. Werneburg explains that people who experience chronic indwelling catheters and neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction are the most prone to UTIs. The doctor expresses excitement for trials to test the vaccine's efficacy and safety among such populations.

Rohn also explains that not all participants responded to vaccines in the trials. However, given the complex nature of the infection and how each patient would experience something different, it is pretty good that half of the patients responded to the vaccine.

The US Food and Drug Administration has not granted the go signal for Uromune. However, 26 other countries have it available for compassionate use. This means that people who do not participate in the formal trial but do not respond to treatments can access it.