Direct-to-consumer program to reduce antibiotic treatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria in Veterans with spinal cord injury
Official title: Direct to Consumer Empowerment Program to Reduce Treatment of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Veterans with Spinal Cord Injury and Neurogenic Bladder
Funded at Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center · NIH-11350007 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing program will help Veterans with spinal cord injury and neurogenic bladder avoid unnecessary antibiotics for asymptomatic bladder bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 1IK2RD002113-01A2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11350007 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with spinal cord injury or disease and neurogenic bladder who have or are at risk for asymptomatic bacteriuria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have symptomatic urinary tract infections will still require appropriate antibiotic treatment; the program does not replace clinician judgment in those cases.
What this research studies
This project targets Veterans with SCI/D and neurogenic bladder who often receive antibiotics for bacteria in the urine even when they have no symptoms. It will provide education and practical guidance to empower patients and caregivers to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. The approach emphasizes patient-facing materials and supports shared decision-making with clinicians to prevent antibiotic overuse and resistance. The study explores real-world strategies to align treatment with guidelines and improve health outcomes for this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer unnecessary antibiotic exposures and lower risk of antibiotic resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evidence suggests that patient empowerment can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in urinary conditions, though this program focuses on a specific Veteran population.
Where this research is happening
-
Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Amenta, Eva — Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Amenta, Eva
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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.