| Shrnutí: | <p>Background</br>
There is growing interest in using non-antibiotic treatments for common bacterial infections, such as Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). One potential non-antibiotic treatment for acute uncomplicated UTI is cranberry extract.</p>
<p>Methods</br>
The existing evidence for using cranberry extract to treat acute, uncomplicated UTIs was systematically reviewed. An open-label, randomised feasibility trial was conducted to determine the feasibility of trialling cranberry extract as a treatment for symptoms of acute, uncomplicated UTI in primary care. Adult women with acute UTI symptoms were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) Immediate antibiotic prescription (controls) 2) Immediate antibiotic prescription and immediate cranberry capsules 3) Immediate cranberry capsules and a delayed antibiotic prescription. Two qualitative studies were embedded within the feasibility trial: The first was conducted with UTI patients (both participants and non-participants of the feasibility trial); and the second was conducted with feasibility trial recruiters.</p>
<p>Results</br>
The systematic review found that the evidence base for or against using cranberry extract for treating acute UTIs was limited. Four General Practices (100% of target) recruited to the feasibility trial, with nine participants recruited per month on average. Forty-six participants were recruited (one beyond target). 89.1% (41/46) of electronic symptom diaries contained some participant entered data, and 69.6% (32/46) were fully completed. Interviewed UTI patients (n=26) and recruiters (n=8) felt that the feasibility trial addressed an important question, and generally found trial processes straightforward. Many UTI patients indicated that they would be happy to delay antibiotic treatment and try initial symptomatic treatment, such as cranberry extract, for acute UTI symptoms in certain circumstances (e.g. with milder symptoms).</p>
<p>Conclusions</br>
The safety and effectiveness of using cranberry extract as a treatment for acute, uncomplicated UTIs represents an evidence gap. The present research programme demonstrates that it is feasible and acceptable to UTI patients to trial cranberry extract for managing symptoms of acute, uncomplicated UTIs. Having established the feasibility of this approach, an adequately powered efficacy trial of cranberry extract for acute UTI is indicated.</p>
|
|---|