Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • You Tube
Donate
Menu
  • About us
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Meet the team
      • Office Team
      • Scientific Advisory Board
      • Trustees
      • Ambassadors
    • Annual Report and Accounts
  • About spinal cord injury
    • What is spinal cord injury?
    • Types of spinal cord injury
  • Research
    • Research policy
    • Active Projects
      • Assistive Technology for Upper Limb Function
      • Neuropathic Pain
      • Urinary Tract Infections
      • Pressure Ulcers
    • Published research
  • Apply for a grant
    • Research grants
    • PhD studentships
  • Events
  • Get involved
    • Set up a fundraising page
    • Fundraising ideas
    • Ambassador programme
    • Amazon Smile
    • Community fundraising
    • Corporate partnerships
      • Corporate Partnerships
      • Corporate Employee Hall of Fame
    • Our supporters
    • Volunteering
      • Volunteer for us
      • Meet Our Volunteers
    • Wheels at Work™
  • Latest
    • News
    • Blog
  • Contact us
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  1. Research
  2. Active Projects
  3. Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary Tract Infections

"Urinary tract infections drive me up the wall. You can be as careful as you like but they still strike unexpectedly.  That's the difficulty.  You cannot be sure, you cannot commit to things, and it really affects my business." Jamie Polk

The need for research

When an individual cannot control their bladder due to the damage caused by spinal cord injury, urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common and debilitating complications of paralysis.  UTI causes pain and at times significant constitutional disturbance.

According to the Unplanned Admissions Consensus Committee, the NHS spent £434 million in 2013/14 on treating 184,000 patients in unplanned admissions associated with a UTI.  UTIs are the second-largest single group of healthcare-associated infections in the UK, accounting for 19.7% of all hospital acquired infections - see the 2016 Updated Guide here. 

SMSR-funded studies

Feasibility study of Intra-vesical Gentamicin in the Prevention of Recurrent UTIs in People with SCI (FIGS)

Led by the London Spinal Injury Centre, Stanmore

SMSR is funding a study which seeks to help people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) who are prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs) by enabling them to self-administer treatment at home.

Researchers from Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, London, will study people with spinal cord injury who will administer antibiotic treatment in the comfort of their own home by instilling a solution via bladder catheters. The aim is to prevent the onset of urinary tract infections and help to minimise the risk of antibiotic resistance. Avoiding the morbidity of UTIs will enable SCI people to continue to work, study, and maintain a good social and family life. 

Commenting on the project, lead researcher Dr Sarah Knight, said: “We are very excited to be starting our Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research funded project. Urinary tract infections are a major factor in reducing the quality of life for people living with spinal cord injury. We hope that bladder instillation of the antibiotic gentamicin will prevent recurrent infections without the need for oral antibiotics and their associated side effects.”

The study is planned to run from August 2020 - Feb 2023.

Update Feb 22: Despite some delays due to COVID and to securing necessary approvals, the project is well underway. A research nurse has been recruited to support the study and the team have identified around 30 potential patients to participate. Patients will shortly be invited to the hospital to provide equipment, training and questionnaires and prescribe the gentamicin to start the trial. 

Published: 4th September, 2019

Updated: 28th June, 2022

Author: Patricia Tweed

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Fish & Chip social evening for patients in the National Spinal Injuries Centre

    Fish & Chip social evening for patients in the National Spinal Injuries Centre

  • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre commits to supporting 10th anniversary year

    Aylesbury Waterside Theatre commits to supporting 10th anniversary year

  • Help us celebrate our 10th anniversary!

    Help us celebrate our 10th anniversary!

  • NSIC in-patient Social Evening - Thursday 26 January!

    NSIC in-patient Social Evening - Thursday 26 January!

Most read

  • Grant application

    Grant application

    Research grant award application information for spinal cord injury research projects

  • Rosalba Atlantic, Bermuda to Plymouth World Record Broken - Blog

    Rosalba Atlantic, Bermuda to Plymouth World Record Broken - Blog

    Read about the highs and lows aboard Rosalba, as our Chairman, Richard Tolkien and crew, Bronwen Maddox, Frank Sturm and David Herrod attempted to break the world record for crossing the Atlantic from Bermuda to Plymouth. Spoiler alert: They did it! Written by Bronwen Maddox

  • Who we are

    Who we are

    An introduction to Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research

  • Wheels at work

    Wheels at work

    Spend the day in a wheelchair to experience some of the challenges faced by those living with spinal cord injury

  • Types of spinal cord injury

    There are different levels of spinal cord injury. This page gives you an overview of the types of spinal cord injury and what areas of the body they affect

  • Ambassadors

    Ambassadors

    Meet the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research Ambassadors

  • Trustees

    List of current Trustees

  • Neuropathic Pain

    Neuropathic Pain studies funded by Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research charity

  • Assistive Technology for Upper Limb Function

    Assistive Technology for Upper Limb Function

    The ability to use your hands is essential to perform everyday activities. Read how our Assistive technology for upper limb function studies are making a difference.

  • Office Team

Tag cloud

About Us

Find Us

Registered Office:
National Spinal Injuries Centre, Mandeville Road, Aylesbury, HP21 8AL

Fundraising: [email protected] / 01296 315255 or 07792407298
Research: [email protected] / 01296 316783 or 07930 494681

For Safeguarding queries or comments: 
Nigel Henderson (Lead) [email protected]
Jamie Polk (Deputy) [email protected]

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Registered as Charity number 1183744
© 2019-2023 Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research - All rights reserved

IoF logo
Manage Cookie Preferences