Over the past decade, a new oral vaccine has been helping to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections. A clinical trial revealed that a pineapple-flavored vaccine spray helped 53.9% of participants remain free of urinary tract infections for up to nine years.
Bacteria Found in Urine. Image source: STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bladder infections, particularly affecting women. Approximately 40% to 60% of women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime, with one quarter prone to recurrent infections. UTIs are typically treated with antibiotics. However, this increases the risk of antibiotic resistance, reducing their effectiveness with repeated use.
As an alternative, researchers have developed the MV140 vaccine, containing four inactivated bacteria that cause UTIs. This soluble vaccine is sprayed under the tongue daily for three months, stimulating the lymphatic tissue through the oral mucosa, a component of the immune system.
On April 6th, at the 39th annual meeting of the European Association of Urology in Paris, researchers presented the first evidence of the long-term efficacy of the MV140 vaccine.
The authors of the study had previously reported the vaccine's short-term efficacy after three and six months. They followed the medical records and regularly monitored 89 participants who received the vaccine in 2014. All participants had a history of UTIs but did not have infections during the three-month vaccination period.
After receiving the spray vaccine, participants experienced no UTIs over an average period of 54.7 months. More than half of the participants—54% of women and 53% of men—avoided UTIs over a nine-year period.
"The condition of people with UTIs is mild, requiring only plenty of water and feeling good," said study collaborator Bob Yang from the Royal Berkshire Hospital in the UK.
However, a concerning issue is the size of the study. S. Adam Ramin, a urological cancer expert from California, USA, noted that about half of all women will experience a UTI in their lifetime. In comparison, only 54% of vaccinated women avoided UTIs over a nine-year study period. "In such a small sample size, this is within the margin of negligible difference."
Previously, another research team attempted to develop a tablet form of the UTI vaccine. However, Yang mentioned that one of the attractions of using a spray is that people are more likely to accept it.
"It's not a tablet, but a spray used under the tongue, which helps with compliance," Yang explained. The pineapple flavor helps people forget they are taking medication, and the spray is easier for elderly people who have difficulty swallowing pills.
