Non antibiotic approach to UTI treatment

Most important step in causing uti bu uropathogenic Escherichia coli, is the "adhesion" of bacteria to urothelial cells.

This attachment is mediated by "FimH", a mannose-binding adhesin, which is expressed on the bacterial surface.

To date, UTIs are mainly treated with antibiotics, leading to the ubiquitous problem of increasing resistance against most of the currently available antimicrobials. Therefore, new treatment strategies are urgently needed, avoiding selection pressure and thereby implying a reduced risk of resistance.

A new class of highly active antimicrobials, anti adhesive molecule targeting the virulence factor FimH - indolinylphenyl mannoside

When it was administered in a mouse model at the low dosage of 1 mg/kg (corresponding to approximately 25 μg/mouse), the minimal therapeutic concentration to prevent UTI was maintained for more than 8 h. In a treatment study, the colony-forming units in the bladder could be reduced by almost 4 orders of magnitude, comparable to the standard antibiotic treatment with ciprofloxacin (8 mg/kg, sc).

So with the help of this novel anti adhesive molecule UTIs can be managed very simply without antibiotics.

Q: What are the causative organisms of bacterial meningitis?

Haemophilus influenzae, which used to be the most common cause of the disease in infants and young children before the HiB vaccine was introduced.

Listeria monocytogenes can infect people of any age, but pregnant women, very young children, and the elderly are at most risk. L. monocytogenes can be acquired through contaminated foods.

Neisseria meningitidis is highly contagious and causes meningococcal meningitis. This form is commonly found in children and young adults, including college students living in dorms.

Staphylococcus aureus may present itself after head trauma or brain surgery

Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children, may appear along with pneumonia, an ear infection, or a sinus infection