Project description:ObjectivesThis study aimed to develop and validate a tailored patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) evaluating the patient experience of recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI) symptom severity. This measure was designed to supplement clinical testing methods, allowing full assessment of the patient experience of rUTI symptom burden, while enhancing patient-centred UTI management and monitoring.Subjects and methodsThe Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection Symptom Scale (RUTISS) was developed and validated using a three-stage methodology, in accordance with gold-standard recommendations. Firstly, a two-round Delphi study was conducted to gain insights from 15 international expert clinicians working in rUTI, developing an initial pool of novel questionnaire items, assessing content validity and making item refinements. Next, two phases of one-to-one semi-structured cognitive interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of 28 people experiencing rUTI to assess questionnaire comprehensiveness and comprehensibility, making refinements after each phase. Finally, a comprehensive pilot of the RUTISS was conducted with 240 people experiencing rUTI across 24 countries, providing data for psychometric testing and item reduction.ResultsExploratory factor analysis indicated a four-factor structure comprising: 'urinary pain and discomfort', 'urinary urgency', 'bodily sensations' and 'urinary presentation', together accounting for 75.4% of the total variance in data. Qualitative feedback from expert clinicians and patients indicated strong content validity for items, which was supported by high content validity indices in the Delphi study (I-CVI > 0.75). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the RUTISS subscales were excellent (Cronbach's α = 0.87-0.94 and ICC = 0.73-0.82, respectively), and construct validity was strong (Spearman's ρ = 0.60-0.82).ConclusionThe RUTISS is a 28-item questionnaire with excellent reliability and validity, which dynamically assesses patient-reported rUTI symptoms and pain. This new PROM offers a unique opportunity to critically inform and strategically enhance the quality of rUTI management, patient-clinician interactions, and shared-decision making by monitoring key patient-reported outcomes.
Project description:Females and males with recurrent urinary tract infections may receive prescription prophylaxis to reduce the infection frequency. Little is known about how prescription prophylaxis differs between patients meeting and exceeding the minimum threshold for recurrent urinary tract infections. The objectives of this study were to estimate the association between infection frequency and receipt of prescription prophylaxis and describe the type of prescription prophylaxis initiated. This observational study used de-identified fully-insured commercial insurance data from the Midwest from 2003-2016 to identify females and males under age 64 with recurrent urinary tract infections. The patients were categorized as having three or more urinary tract infections in twelve months or only two infections in six months. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine the association between the infection frequency and receipt of prophylaxis. The frequency of the type of prophylaxis initiated was measured. The odds of receiving prophylaxis were greater in the females and males with three or more infections compared to the patients with only two infections. Estrogen prophylaxis was initiated at a higher rate in females aged 45-63 with two infections than the females with three or more infections. Prescription prophylaxis in females and males with recurrent urinary tract infections differs between those meeting and exceeding the minimum frequency threshold.
Project description:We present a 62-year-old woman who developed recurrent urinary tract infections in her early fifties and, after an evaluation by an infectious disease physician, was referred for a neurological consultation. Her history and neurological examination were consistent with spastic paraparesis and there was significant family history of a variety of neurological diagnoses suggesting a genetic disorder. Whole exome genetic testing revealed a novel change, a c.508 C > T variant in the SPAST gene. Our genetic and protein modeling analysis suggest that this is a disease-producing mutation confirming the diagnosis of hereditary spastic paraplegia type 4 (SPG4). This patient expands the spectrum of mutations that can cause this disorder and demonstrate the importance of recognizing the role of neurological disorders in causing neurogenic bladder and recurrent urinary tract infections.
Project description:PurposeRecurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI) is a highly prevalent condition associated with significant poor quality of life outcomes. A patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) of rUTI-associated psychosocial impact is urgently required to supplement clinical evaluation and validate the challenges experienced by patients. This study therefore developed and validated the Recurrent UTI Impact Questionnaire (RUTIIQ).MethodsA rigorous four-stage methodology was followed: (I) concept elicitation through a qualitative survey of the experiences of people with rUTI (N = 1983); (II) Delphi expert screening of the RUTIIQ with expert rUTI clinicians (N = 15); (III) one-to-one cognitive interviews with people experiencing rUTI (N = 28) to evaluate the comprehensiveness and comprehensibility of the RUTIIQ, and (IV) full pilot testing of the RUTIIQ with people experiencing rUTI (N = 240) to perform final item reduction and psychometric analysis.ResultsExploratory factor analysis demonstrated a five-factor structure comprising: 'patient satisfaction', 'work and activity interference', 'social wellbeing', 'personal wellbeing', and 'sexual wellbeing', collectively accounting for 73.8% of the total variance in pilot scores. Results from expert clinicians and patients indicated strong item content validity (I-CVI > .75). The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the RUTIIQ subscales were excellent (Cronbach's α = .81-.96, ICC = .66-.91), and construct validity was strong (Spearman's ρ > .69).ConclusionThe RUTIIQ is a 30-item questionnaire with excellent psychometric properties, assessing the patient-reported psychosocial impact of living with rUTI symptoms and pain. This new instrument delivers the unique opportunity to enhance patient-centred care through standardised observation and monitoring of rUTI patient outcomes.Trial registrationThis study was pre-registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT05086900).
Project description:Introduction and hypothesisMany clinicians utilize standard culture of voided urine to guide treatment for women with recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTI). However, despite antibiotic treatment, symptoms may persist and events frequently recur. The cyclic nature and ineffective treatment of RUTI suggest that underlying uropathogens pass undetected because of the preferential growth of Escherichia coli. Expanded quantitative urine culture (EQUC) detects more clinically relevant microbes. The objective of this study was to assess how urine collection and culture methods influence microbial detection in RUTI patients.MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled symptomatic adult women with an established RUTI diagnosis. Participants contributed both midstream voided and catheterized urine specimens for culture via both standard urine culture (SUC) and EQUC. Presence and abundance of microbiota were compared between culture and collection methods.ResultsForty-three symptomatic women participants (mean age 67 years) contributed specimens. Compared to SUC, EQUC detected more unique bacterial species and consistently detected more uropathogens from catheterized and voided urine specimens. For both collection methods, the most commonly detected uropathogens by EQUC were E. coli (catheterized: n = 8, voided: n = 12) and E. faecalis (catheterized: n = 7, voided: n = 17). Compared to catheterized urine samples assessed by EQUC, SUC often missed uropathogens, and culture of voided urines by either method yielded high false-positive rates.ConclusionsIn women with symptomatic RUTI, SUC and assessment of voided urines have clinically relevant limitations in uropathogen detection. These results suggest that, in this population, catheterized specimens analyzed via EQUC provide clinically relevant information for appropriate diagnosis.
Project description:ObjectivesTo identify risk factors for recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) and renal scarring in children who have had 1 or 2 febrile or symptomatic UTIs and received no antimicrobial prophylaxis.MethodsThis 2-year, multisite prospective cohort study included 305 children aged 2 to 71 months with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) receiving placebo in the RIVUR (Randomized Intervention for Vesicoureteral Reflux) study and 195 children with no VUR observed in the CUTIE (Careful Urinary Tract Infection Evaluation) study. Primary exposure was presence of VUR; secondary exposures included bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD), age, and race. Outcomes were recurrent febrile or symptomatic urinary tract infection (F/SUTI) and renal scarring.ResultsChildren with VUR had higher 2-year rates of recurrent F/SUTI (Kaplan-Meier estimate 25.4% compared with 17.3% for VUR and no VUR, respectively). Other factors associated with recurrent F/SUTI included presence of BBD at baseline (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.07 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-3.93]) and presence of renal scarring on the baseline (99m)Tc-labeled dimercaptosuccinic acid scan (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.88 [95% CI: 1.22-6.80]). Children with BBD and any degree of VUR had the highest risk of recurrent F/SUTI (56%). At the end of the 2-year follow-up period, 8 (5.6%) children in the no VUR group and 24 (10.2%) in the VUR group had renal scars, but the difference was not statistically significant (adjusted odds ratio: 2.05 [95% CI: 0.86-4.87]).ConclusionsVUR and BBD are risk factors for recurrent UTI, especially when they appear in combination. Strategies for preventing recurrent UTI include antimicrobial prophylaxis and treatment of BBD.
Project description:Recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI) is a major medical problem, especially in the elderly and infirm, but the nature of the reservoir of organisms responsible for survival and recolonisation after antibiotic treatment in humans is unclear. Here, we demonstrate the presence of cell-wall deficient (L-form) bacteria in fresh urine from 29 out of 30 older patients with rUTI. In urine, E. coli strains from patient samples readily transition from the walled state to L-form during challenge with a cell wall targeting antibiotic. Following antibiotic withdrawal, they then efficiently transition back to the walled state. E. coli switches between walled and L-form states in a zebrafish larva infection model. The results suggest that L-form switching is a physiologically relevant phenomenon that may contribute to the recurrence of infection in older patients with rUTI, and potentially other infections.
Project description:Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common health issue affecting individuals worldwide. Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI) pose a significant clinical challenge, with limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Recent research suggests that the urobiome, the microbial community residing in the urinary tract, may play a crucial role in the development and recurrence of urinary tract infections. However, the specific virulence factor genes (VFGs) driven by urobiome contributing to infection recurrence remain poorly understood. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between urobiome driven VFGs and recurrent urinary tract infections. By analyzing the VFGs composition of the urinary microbiome in patients with rUTI compared to a control group, we found higher alpha diversity in rUTI patients compared with healthy control. And then, we sought to identify specific VFGs features associated with infection recurrence. Specifically, we observed an increased abundance of certain VGFs in the recurrent infection group. We also associated VFGs and clinical data. We then developed a diagnostic model based on the levels of these VFGs using random forest and support vector machine analysis to distinguish healthy control and rUIT, rUTI relapse and rUTI remission. The diagnostic accuracy of the model was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and the area under the ROC curve were 0.83 and 0.75. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between the VFGs of urobiome and recurrent urinary tract infections, highlighting potential targets for therapeutic interventions to prevent infection recurrence.
Project description:Abstract Recurrent urinary tract infections are a common health problem. The only comprehensive synthesis on antibiotic prophylaxis in the last 15 years has been a guideline-embedded meta-analysis. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published up to October 13, 2020, evaluating patients age ≥12 years with either ≥2 episodes of lower urinary tract infection (UTI) within 6 months or ≥3 in the past year. Placebo or antibiotics were allowed as comparators. Study quality was low. In the 11 placebo-controlled trials, the risk for developing UTI was 85% lower with prophylaxis in comparison with placebo (risk ratio [RR], 0.15; 95% CI, 0.08–0.29). In the 9 head-to-head trials, the efficacy of the antibiotic agents appeared similar: The pooled RR indicated no difference between nitrofurantoin and comparators (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.74–1.37), nor trimethoprim (+/- sulfamethoxazole; RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.89–2.03) or norfloxacin and comparators (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.43–1.70). Studies comparing intermittent (postcoital) with continuous strategies revealed intermittent application to be equally effective.