Urinary tract infection (UTI), usually caused by E. coli, can affect any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Females are at higher risk for UTIs due to their anatomy. The main cause of a UTI is the pathogenic translocation from the rectal area to the bladder via the urethra. Pathogen adhesion, colonization, and multiplication in the urinary tract can lead to a UTI. Antibiotics are the first-line UTI treatment but can lead to antibiotic resistance. Rising antimicrobial resistance in uropathogens has significantly affected UTI management. Antibiotic use can cause gastrointestinal side effects, recurrent infections, and lack of immune modulation. Current nutraceutical therapies mainly provide anti-adhesion effects without antimicrobial activity.
Effective UTI therapy should include the following clinically proven features:
- Antimicrobial effect
- Antiadhesion effect
- Immunomodulatory effect
- Controls pathogenic translocation from gastrointestinal tract to urinary tract
- Complements antibiotics therapy
- Minimizes the side effects of antibiotic therapy
- Proven clinical efficacy and safety