Science behind Chronic UTI
What is a chronic/embedded UTI?
A chronic or embedded urinary tract infection is caused by failed treatment from an Acute UTI. This can be because incorrect antibiotics were prescribed, not enough or none at all. An embedded uti is where the bacteria cling to the bladder wall and are not free floating in the urine. This is why many cases of infections go under the radar when in a GP setting because the infection does not always show in the urine. A chronic UTI has same symptoms of an acute UTI but can come and go in flares. You can go months without any symptoms, for another attack to appear. Many think they are having reoccurring attacks, in fact it is the same infection not fully clearing.
How does a UTI become chronic?
It is proven that 70% of UTIS are missed on dip tests. Leaving a UTI untreated or having short courses of antibiotics on and off can cause the bugs to in fact become smarter and make a home in your bladder lining. Many UTI sufferers are given 3-5 days of antibiotics which is proving a problem more than a solution. This amount is not enough and the lower the course the more chances of it settling and coming back. Repeat short courses get the causation bacteria used to the environment and fight back harder.
Current Chronic/embedded UTI treatment
The problem patients face is getting a diagnosis. Most GP/NHS/Consultants are not aware of this condition. Many are told they have Intersisitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome and given various invasive treatments or told there is nothing they can do! However, there are a handful of cUTI Drs out there who are aware of the embedded bacteria and are able to help. With huge thanks to Professor Malone Lee and his team at Harley Street, his life long research into Urinary Tract Infections has given us patients some hope. The current protocol for treating the embedded infection is long term high dose antibiotics/ or/ with a bladder antiseptic called Methenamine (Hiprex). Both have proven great success in patient recovery. Professor and his team use a microscope and count White blood cells and Epithelial cells to check for infection. Cultures and broths are another outdated testing method and do not prove causation of infection.