SMSR-funded study shows real promise in reducing number of Urinary Tract Infections in people with Spinal Cord Injury

Early results from a study funded by Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research and carried out at the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Stanmore offer hope to the many people with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) who suffer from recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

The work, led by Consultant Clinical Scientist Dr Sarah Knight, has found that giving people the common antibiotic gentamicin directly into their bladder via a catheter reduced UTIs by 84% over 12 weeks. The preparation can easily be administered at home and showed no major side effects. It is hoped that giving the antibiotics in this way, rather than by mouth, will help reduce the unwanted side effects associated with oral antibiotics.

Before the treatment can be used more widely, the results must be verified in a larger trial. The team will be using the findings from this study to inform an application for this to the National Institute for Health Research.