Research Warns Immune System Overreaction May Trigger Recurrent UTIs

(Newswire.net — October 6, 2021) Orlando, FL — Scientists have long been investigating not just the prevalence of urinary tract infections but also their triggers. It is important to keep in mind that leaving this infection untreated could result in undesirable health outcomes that could turn fatal.

A study was carried out and published in PLoS Pathogens.

In this research, it has been found that immune system overreaction may actually enable recurrent urinary tract infections.

This study was carried out by the researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. 

The researchers suggest that the immune system may be a gateway to recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) by overdoing its response to an initial infection. 

This mouse study has shown severe inflammatory responses to an initial UTI trigger bladder damage which also allow infection to persist longer.  

One to two weeks following the infection, the bladder wall undergoes additional changes leaving mice more vulnerable to later infection. It is also worth stressing that during the initial infection, suppressing the immune system reduces these vulnerabilities. 

“We found markers in the mice that may one day help us identify patients vulnerable to recurrent infection and refine our treatment strategies,” says lead author Thomas J. Hannan, DVM, Ph.D.

“There were infection-fighting elements in the immune responses of some mice that we may, for example, one day be able to trigger with vaccines for vulnerable patients.”

The study was carried out at the Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research at the School of Medicine.

“Women and infants are at greatest risk for UTIs, and chronic and recurrent infections are common,” says Hultgren, the Helen L. Stoever Professor of Molecular Microbiology. 

“The diagnosis and treatment of UTIs in the United States are estimated to cost $1.6 billion annually.”

More studies are still being carried out to look into the various aspects of this infection. There have been studies strongly recommending the use of all-natural remedies in fighting this infection.

There are medications like antibiotics available, but their misuse or overuse is associated with side effects. This is why it could be extremely helpful to take some all-natural techniques in preventing the onset or recurrence of the infection.

Interestingly, some remedies like Divine Bounty D-mannose could be helpful. D-mannose is a therapeutic ingredient that can be found in cranberry juice, which is a popular remedy for UTIs. 

In some studies, it has been shown the use of D-mannose aided the battle against the infection (www.amazon.com/D-Mannose-600mg-Cranberry-Dandelion-Extract/dp/B01LX5KGF0).