Chronic Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a type of UTI where symptoms are constant and occur every day, unlike recurrent UTIs, which come and go with symptom-free breaks in between. Current treatment for chronic UTI within the NHS is based on recommended guidelines for recurrent UTI. The standard approach typically includes one of the following treatments:
* Long-term, prophylactic (low) dose daily antibiotic (where medication is used at low doses to try to prevent symptoms reoccurring). * Long-term use of a urinary antiseptic (which helps keep your urine bacteria free), called methenamine hippurate.
These often do not work for people with chronic UTI, and symptoms can persist. Moreover, standard urine tests may fail to detect infections, making diagnosis and treatment more challenging.
The EAT-UP trial will investigate whether longer courses of treatment (higher) dose antibiotics combined with methenamine hippurate (a urinary antiseptic) are a more effective treatment at reducing levels of infection and symptoms than standard of care treatments (as described above).
A diagnosis of chronic UTI, without structural or functional urinary tract abnormality*, defined as daily persistent symptoms affecting storage (urinary frequency, urgency or urge incontinence) and urinary tract pain symptoms (including bladder pain, urethral pain, or dysuria), for at least 3 months prior to the screening visit, with previously associated transient symptomatic improvement to antibiotic treatment for UTI, which in the opinion of the delegated clinician is secondary to chronic urinary tract infection.
A fresh urine microscopy examination showing ≥20 white blood cells/µl of urine at the screening visit.
Female** patients.
Aged ≥18 years.
Inability to take at least one of the following antibiotics: Cefalexin, Nitrofurantoin, or Trimethoprim, at prophylactic and treatment dose according to NICE guidelines, and/or the Summary of Product Characteristics (such as hepatic or renal dysfunction), or any other medical contraindications.
Inability to take methenamine hippurate due to medical contraindications.
Current use of immune-modulating drugs for the treatment of chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic lung disease, any other autoimmune conditions or cancer.
Current use of Sodium-Glucose Transport Protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors*.
Parallel
Treatment dose antibiotic in combination with methenamine hippurate
DrugArm A includes treatment with one of three treatment dose antibiotic options, selected by the treating clinician, in combination with methenamine hippurate. Participants allocated to this arm will receive combination therapy, consisting of one of the following antibiotics: * Cefalexin (500mg four times daily), or * Nitrofurantoin (100mg twice daily), or * Trimethoprim (200mg twice daily) in combination with Methenamine Hippurate (1g twice daily) for 12 weeks.
Prophylactic dose antibiotic or methenamine hippurate monotherapy
DrugArm B includes treatment with one of four prophylactic dose antibiotics or methenamine hippurate, but not both, selected by the treating clinician. Participants in this arm will receive monotherapy of one of the following: * Amoxicillin (250mg once daily), or * Cefalexin (125mg once daily), or * Nitrofurantoin (50mg once daily), or * Trimethoprim (100mg once daily), or * Methenamine Hippurate (1g twice daily) for 12 weeks.
Change in urinary white blood cell (WBC) count from baseline to Week 12.
Urinary white blood cell (WBC) count, measured using fresh urine microscopy, will be used as the principal biomarker to indicate urinary tract inflammation.
Changes in EuroQol EQ-5D 5-Level Health Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) scores at week 12, adjusted for baseline
The EQ-5D-5L is a participant self-reported questionnaire which evaluates the generic quality of life at the time of completion. It comprises of a 5 item questionnaire (assessing - mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression) and a visual analogue scale (VAS). Each dimension assessed has 5 response scales to select from: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems, and extreme problems
Changes in ICIQ Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms quality of life (ICIQ-LUTSqol)
The ICIQ Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life (ICIQ-LUTSqol) is designed to assess the impact of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on a patient's quality of life. It consists of 19 items that explore various aspects of daily living affected by LUTS, including physical, social, emotional, and psychological domains. Responses are measured using a Likert scale, allowing clinicians and researchers to quantify the burden of symptoms and evaluate changes over time.
Changes in Whittington 39-point Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (W-39 LUTS) scores at week 12, adjusted for baseline
The Whittington 39-point Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (W-39 LUTS) is a questionnaire designed to assess participant's experiences of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). It consists of 39 items that explore the following LUTS symptom groups: Urgency, Pain, Stress Incontinence and Voiding.
Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scores at week 12.
The Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) is used to assess a participant's perception of change in their condition following treatment. It consists of a single-item questionnaire where patients rate their overall improvement on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from "very much better" to "very much worse."
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