urine infection This is a very common reason for visiting primary health care centers. It is estimated that approximately 400 million people per year. However, despite the frequency of its study, the diagnostic and treatment methods used against it have been around for about a hundred years. This leads to an increasing number of cases of recurrent urinary tract infections, which cause discomfort to those who suffer from them, and which can even become a serious problem as the infection progresses. antibiotic resistance.
Knowing about this problem, a group of scientists from University College London conducted a study aimed at finding out why traditional methods do not completely solve the problem of urinary tract infections. For this they developed artificial bladder in which they studied how bacteria that cause infections interact with it.
This allowed them to find some of their weak points and indicate what should be the way to prevent recurrent urine infection. Now it remains for other scientists to want to follow this path and finally, a century later, take action to combat a disease that, to no one’s surprise, primarily affects women.
All the details about bladder and urine infections
It is defined as a urinary tract infection that occurs when certain bacteria colonize the urethra and, through the urinary tract, infect organs associated with this system. The most common urine infection is cystitisin which the infected organ is the bladder.
For this reason, these scientists developed a three-dimensional model based on culturing bladder cells in an environment that mimics the urinary tract environment. So we can say that they developed artificial bladder.
Once this first step was completed, they exposed the artificial bladder to several types of bacteria that are commonly associated with urinary tract infections: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus agalactiae. And Klebsiella pneumonia.
Thus, they saw that they not only reproduce very well in urinary system environment, are also capable of developing very effective methods of bypassing antibiotics and the immune system. They achieve this by attaching to the walls of the bladder, forming membrane-like structures.
Beneficial bacteria do this genitourinary microbiota such as pathogens that cause urinary tract infections. And here we discover the problems of traditional treatment and diagnosis.
Too old methods for a very current disease
A urinary tract infection is usually diagnosed when stripes which are injected into the sample and, through color changes, indicate the presence of parameters associated with infection, such as proteins, blood or lymphocytes that fight bacteria.
This may also urine culture in the laboratory looking for bacteria. It takes more time; but, logically, it gives more reliable results. Once these results are obtained, antibiotic treatment is used, which has been available since Alexander Fleming’s discovery almost a century ago.
Traditionally, a broad-spectrum antibiotic called fosfomycin, which with two or three doses put an end to the infection. The problem is that there are more and more bacteria resistant to it, so we need to go further. I’m trying other antibiotics. In any case, there are no other options. It’s true that some dietary supplements, such as cranberry, show promise in preventing and treating urinary tract infections. However, there is no evidence that they are truly effective.
That’s why we have a test based on urine culture or dipstick testing. If bacteria attach to bladder wall, very few of them will be detected in urine, so false negative results may occur. This becomes even more noteworthy when patients drink plenty of water to reduce the discomfort associated with urine infection. The sample is more diluted, making it more difficult hunt bacteria released from the walls of the bladder.
As for treatment, antibiotics simply kill flies with cannon shots. He uses broad spectrum antibiotic which attacks these bacteria and possibly many others, including beneficial ones in the microbiota. Therefore, sometimes after treatment for a urinary tract infection, it is not uncommon for another type of infection to occur. And if that’s not enough, antibiotics may have trouble reaching the bladder walls. Consequently, the cannon shots will not even be aimed in the right direction.
We have to see how our body reacts.
The authors of this study also saw that when an artificial bladder came into contact with bacteria the immune system It is capable of creating protection against pathogens. But not against harmless ones. Therefore, they propose to develop diagnostic methods for urinary infections based on the reaction of the immune system. This may indicate the presence of harmful bacteria hidden in the walls of the bladder.
In addition, it is logical to propose the development of drugs designed to pass through bladder tissue. Antibiotic for orally may not be enough.
A century later, it’s time for innovation. And also ask yourself a question. Would there be innovation if urine infections were as common in men as they are in women?
Source: Hiper Textual
