Daily nitrofurantoin with or without bladder cauterization to prevent recurrent bladder infections in women
Official title: A multi-centric randomized trial of daily nitrofurantoin versus bladder fulguration plus daily nitrofurantoin for the long-term management of cystitis in women with recurrent urinary tract infections
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11400281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests two approaches to prevent recurrent bladder infections in women: taking a low-dose antibiotic every day versus adding a bladder cauterization procedure plus the same daily antibiotic.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $647,297 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140224-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with recurrent UTIs (3+ episodes per year or 2+ in 6 months) who are suitable for outpatient cystoscopy and daily nitrofurantoin prophylaxis.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with contraindications to nitrofurantoin or those not eligible for cystoscopy-based treatment may not benefit.
What this research studies
Women with frequent urinary tract infections may be offered two long-term strategies: low-dose antibiotic prophylaxis and an outpatient bladder cauterization procedure to treat chronic bladder inflammation. This multicenter randomized trial compares daily nitrofurantoin alone to nitrofurantoin plus bladder fulguration, aiming to reduce recurrence and improve quality of life. Participants will be followed to monitor infection rates, symptoms, resistance patterns, and potential adverse effects. The study builds on prior findings that chronic bladder inflammation may contribute to rUTIs and that a procedural intervention could offer sustained relief.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants could experience fewer UTIs and less need for antibiotics, potentially improving daily living and reducing healthcare visits.
How similar studies have gone: Prior long-term antibiotic strategies and cystoscopic approaches have shown symptom relief in selected patients, with mixed long-term outcomes; this trial tests a combined approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zimmern, Philippe E — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Zimmern, Philippe E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
New ways to stop urinary tract infections by blocking bacterial adhesion
A study to test new methods that prevent bacteria from sticking to urinary tract tissues and devices, potentially stopping infections before they start.
-
Hybridization capture sequencing to quickly identify canine urinary pathogens and resistance genes
A new sequencing approach directly from dog urine aims to rapidly identify bacteria causing urinary infections and their drug-resistance profiles to guide treatment.
-
Enterococcal Proteases and CAUTI: How the body’s environment activates bacteria to cause infections
A small grant is exploring how two enzymes from Enterococcus faecalis interact with the urine environment to drive catheter-associated urinary tract infections and why these infections are hard to treat.
-
New bacterial pathway that helps cause bladder infections
Researchers are exploring how bacteria steal nutrients in the bladder and how the body fights them to help people with urinary tract infections.
-
New oral antifungal for tough Candida UTIs
A Johns Hopkins team is testing a new oral antifungal medicine called fungerps to treat urinary tract infections caused by azole-resistant Candida fungi.
-
Understanding how bacteria and fungi interact to cause catheter-related urinary infections
Researchers are studying how common bladder infections linked to catheters happen when bacteria and fungi work together, and what that could mean for better prevention and treatment.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.