Scientists find big cause and new treatment of urinary tract infections

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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common problem, especially for women. Around half of all women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime, and many suffer from recurring infections. These infections can cause significant pain and discomfort, and if left untreated, they can lead to serious complications.

One of the biggest challenges in treating UTIs today is antibiotic resistance. Over time, bacteria have become more resistant to common antibiotics, making it harder for doctors to choose the right treatment.

Adding to the difficulty, traditional tests to identify the bacteria causing the infection take several days. This means doctors often have to prescribe antibiotics without knowing the specific bacteria involved, which can worsen the issue of antibiotic resistance if the wrong medication is used.

Fast Testing with Phages: A New Solution

Researchers at ETH Zurich, in partnership with Balgrist University Hospital, have developed an innovative way to address this problem. They’ve created a quick test that uses bacteriophages, or “phages,” to identify the bacteria causing a UTI in just a few hours.

Phages are viruses that naturally attack bacteria, and they’ve been genetically modified in this study to be even more effective.

The team’s findings, published in Nature Communications, showcase how these phages can both identify and combat bacterial infections. Phages are highly specialized and target specific types of bacteria. For this study, the researchers focused on three main bacteria responsible for most UTIs: Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella, and Enterococci.

Here’s how the test works: when the modified phages infect bacteria in a urine sample, they trigger the bacteria to emit a light signal.

This allows doctors to identify the specific bacteria causing the infection within four hours, enabling them to prescribe the correct antibiotics immediately. This fast and accurate approach could significantly reduce the misuse of antibiotics and slow the spread of resistance.

Phage Therapy: An Old Idea with New Potential

Phage therapy isn’t new. It’s been around for over a century but fell out of favor in Western medicine after antibiotics like penicillin were discovered. With the rise of antibiotic resistance, however, researchers are revisiting the potential of phages.

Phages are like precision tools. Unlike antibiotics, which can kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria, phages target only the bacteria they’re designed to attack. This makes them a safer and more focused option for treating infections.

In this new research, scientists took phages a step further by modifying them to produce bacteriocins, which are proteins that kill bacteria. This dual-action approach makes the therapy even more powerful, offering hope for more effective treatments for bacterial infections like UTIs.

What’s Next?

The researchers are now preparing for clinical trials to test this phage-based test and therapy on patients. While the method is still in its early stages, it represents a significant advance in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections.

Matthew Dunne, a lead author of the study, highlighted the growing interest in phages, both natural and genetically modified. However, widespread use of phage therapies will require more clinical research and changes to regulations, as phages are living organisms that can evolve over time.

A New Era in Infection Treatment

This breakthrough could transform how UTIs and other bacterial infections are diagnosed and treated. Faster testing means patients can get the right treatment sooner, while targeted phage therapy offers a safer and more effective alternative to traditional antibiotics. By reducing the misuse of antibiotics, this approach could also help combat the growing problem of resistance.

While further research and trials are needed, this innovative solution offers hope for people suffering from painful and recurring infections. It’s a reminder of how science continues to find new ways to tackle old problems, improving health and quality of life for many.

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