Antibiotic resistance in children with E coli urinary tract infection

There is scope in the AMR era of complementary NHS treatments being studied, assessed and applied. Anecdotally patients have reported benefit from Homeopathic Medicines. There is a published pilot study which is a sound starting point for further research (1).

(1) https://www.hri-research.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/HRI_ResearchArti...

Pilot study demonstrates effectiveness of homeopathy in treating symptomatic urinary tract infections in patients with spinal cord injury

Professor Jürgen Pannek
Chefarzt Neuro-Urologie , Schweizer Paraplegiker-Zentrum, Guido A. Zäch Strasse 1
CH -6207 Nottwil, Switzerland, Email: juergen.pannek@paraplegie.ch

In a recent publication, our group presented a case series demonstrating the feasibility of adjunctive classical homeopathic treatment in patients with spinal cord injury suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections1.

The results were achieved by a close collaboration between a specialized rehabilitation centre and a homeopathic practice.

Conclusion
Symptomatic UTIs occur in nearly 60% of persons with SCI after discharge of primary rehabilitation.2 They severely impair quality of life and they are associated with an increased mortality.6;7 The effects of homeopathic treatment in this case series were impressive and exceeded the effects of other prophylactic measures.

The published case series is the largest study evaluating homeopathic prophylaxis of UTI reported in the literature.

As neither the mode of bladder management nor the medical standard prophylactic treatment were altered in any of the patients in the course of the study, it is plausible that the positive effects are due to the
adjunctive homeopathic treatment.

Although treatment was constitutional, remedies with a tropism related to the lower urinary tract and catheterisation, like Staphysagria and Lycopodium, were chosen most frequently. In all patients, high potencies were used.

In conclusion, homeopathy in addition to conventional prophylactic measures seems to be an effective, promising method for the prevention of recurrent UTI in patients with SCI. Especially in this group of patients, suffering from chronic disease and receiving long-term medical treatment for many secondary dysfunctions, reduction of drug intake and freedom from infection contribute to an improved quality of life. A co-operation between urologists and homeopaths is the key to improve not merely the situation of the lower urinary tract, but also the well-being of those affected by this condition.

Limitations and implications for further research
The number of participants in this case series was small and there was no control group. Therefore, to confirm the results of this publication, a prospective, randomized study is required. Such a study has been designed and is currently recruiting patients (registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01477502: Clinical Value of Homeopathic Prophylaxis of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury). In addition, two patients spontaneously described that their general well-being has improved with homeopathic treatment. Therefore, future studies of homeopathic treatment should not focus on a single outcome parameter (e.g. UTI frequency) alone, but quality of life and the totality of symptoms should be systematically assessed.

References
1. Pannek J, Pannek-Rademacher S, Cachin Jus M, Jus MS. Usefulness of classical homeopathy for the prevention of urinary tract infections in patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction: a case series. Indian Journal of Research in Homeopathy 2014;8: 31-36.
2. Biering-Søre