Probiotic Prophylaxis of Spinal Cord Injury Urinary Tract‐Infection TherapeUtic‐Trial (ProSCIUTTU)
Key objective
To determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of prophylaxis probiotics to reduce urinary tract infections in patients with spinal cord injury
People with spinal cord injury (SCI) are commonly colonized with multiresistant organism (MRO) as a result of recurrent urinary, chest and/or wound infections. MRO occur due to over-exposure to antibiotics during treatment of infections. Presence of MRO in SCI patients makes conventional treatment difficult if further infections develop as treatment usually requires prolonged hospitalization and use of more expensive drugs. MRO spreads easily to other patients within the hospital, requiring extra infection control precautions. Furthermore, transmission of MRO to patients already immunocompromised increases mortality and morbidity.
Probiotic agents are bacterial cultures similar to that found in yogurts. Certain strains of probiotic bacteria have been shown to be possibly effective in treating MRO in other patient populations. We do not know from these studies whether this potential treatment will work for people with SCI. ProSCIUTTU is a randomized controlled trial in 372 people with SCI which commences in mid 2010 and will run for a period of 3 years. The trial hypothesis is that Probiotics may prevent urinary tract infections in people with SCI. Unlike antibiotics, Probiotics do not cause development of further antibiotic resistance.
Funding source
NHMRC
CHERE staff
Stephen Goodall
Collaborators
Bonne Lee1, Judy Simpson2
1. University of NSW
2. University of Sydney
