Have you heard of the “UTI vaccine”? What you need to know about how recurrent infections are treated

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be extremely painful and some women suffer from them frequently.

Recently media personality Abbie Chatfield posted on Tik Tok explaining that she is starting vaccinations for recurrent UTIs.

The MV140 or Uromune vaccine appeared to be safe and effective in short-term studies but has not been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Iris Lim is an assistant professor in the department of biomedical sciences at Bond University in Gold Coast’s Yugambe/Kombumerri peoples’ land and says research into the vaccine has yielded positive results.

Dr Lim says the vaccine will be suitable for some patients with recurrent UTIs.

What are recurrent and chronic UTIs?

According to the Better Health Channel, approximately one in two women and one in 20 men will develop a UTI in their lifetime.

Women can get medication for uncomplicated UTIs from select pharmacies across Australia.

But about one in five women experience recurrent UTIs, which is two or more infections in six months or three or more infections in a year.

Payam Nikpour, a gynecologist and urogynecologist practicing in Naarmah/Melbourne, says the effects of recurrent UTIs can be far-reaching.

They can also become persistent or chronic, and Dr. Nikpour says that “sometimes the infection never goes away.”

Those affected may “lose out in their social life, personal life, relationships, (and) professional life… especially when it becomes chronic and recurring.”

Treatment Options

Gynecologist Pav Nanayakkara, from Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, is based in Naarma/Melbourne and says women and their doctors should “rule out causes that may be contributing to recurrent infections” before considering vaccination.

When you submit a urine sample for testing, you’ll first make sure you’re prescribing the right antibiotic, she says.

Dr. Nanayakkara says the anatomy of the urinary tract may also play a role.

There is also “what we call atrophy or thinning of the vaginal tissue, and so topical estrogen may be an appropriate treatment in that context.”

While conditions such as “painful bladder syndrome or interstitial cystitis can make people feel like they have a UTI when they don’t.”

She says MV140 is a “new therapy option” and given some studies in fairly small samples, “I think we need to gather a little more information.”

Dr Nanayakkara advises women to “go to your GP or ask for a second opinion if you are not happy with the treatment you are receiving. Make sure you rule out all potentially reversible causes of UTI recurrence.”

How does the UTI vaccine work and who can access it?

Dr. Lim, mentioned earlier in the story, explains that the vaccine “introduces very small amounts of several strains of bacteria into the body, so the body can be prepared to fight off those bacteria.”

Unlike other vaccines you may be familiar with, MV140 is an oral vaccine that is administered through a spray and comes in a pineapple flavor.

Dr. Nikpour says, “You apply two sprays under your tongue for three months every day,” where it is absorbed and enters the bloodstream.

“It contains four types of inactivated bacteria.”

According to Dr. Nikpour, these four types of bacteria are the most common culprits of UTIs, including E. coli.

MV140 has not been approved in Australia and the Therapeutic Goods Administration states that it has not received an application to register MV140 on the Australian Therapeutic Goods Register.

However, it is available through special access programs. Doctors can apply to prescribe a drug to a specific patient or apply for permission to prescribe a drug to multiple patients.

Dr. Nikpour says he prescribed the vaccine to patients who suffered from recurrent “culture-confirmed” UTIs and who had not responded to previous antibiotic or non-antibiotic therapy.

“They use the spray for three months and it usually works for a few months to a year, sometimes more than a year.”

The procedure can be repeated at the doctor’s discretion, Dr. Nikpour says.

He says studies have shown some mild side effects, including dry mouth and nausea, but none of his patients have experienced them since the drug was first prescribed in 2022.

Dr. Nikpour says the MV140 currently costs $320 plus shipping costs from the wholesaler to the patient’s pharmacy. He says the price includes two small spray bottles that will “last three months.”

Dr Lim says you can expect to pay between $300 and $400.

This is general information only. For detailed personal advice, you should consult a qualified physician who knows your medical history.