ATAFUTI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Alternative Treatments of Adult female Urinary Tract Infection: a double blind, placebo controlled,factorial randomised trial.
IRAS ID
115144
Contact name
Michael Moore
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Eudract number
2013-003327-11
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 29 days
Research summary
Antibiotic resistance is rising and linked to prescribing in primary care. It is a national priority to try and reduce antibiotic prescribing where possible. Cystitis(urinary tract infection) in adult women is one of the most common conditions treated with antibiotics in primary care. Although the symptoms are distressing they usually settle without complications within a few days. Antibiotics do shorten the duration of symptoms and treatment is currently the norm. An alternative strategy, which has been successful in respiratory infections, is to delay the prescription for a few days. In cystitis this results in a modest reduction in antibiotic prescribing but with slightly longer symptoms. It is unlikely however that the delayed prescribing strategy will be widely adopted unless an alternative approach for symptom relief is available. Two candidates for symptom relief have been identified. Anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and an herbal product, Uva ursi. This study aims to find out if one or both of these products, alone or in combination, used during the period of delayed treatment would provide additional symptom relief. If so they would have the potential to change practice and to promote the delayed strategy in primary care and further reduce antibiotic prescribing. Women presenting to their GP with suspected cystitis will be asked to accept a delayed prescription for antibiotics and then to be randomised to one or both of the two medications to reduce symptoms. If their symptoms get worse or have not improved after 3-5 days then they will collect and take the antibiotics. We will record symptom severity, using a diary, and the proportion of women using antibiotics in each group.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/1143
Date of REC Opinion
22 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion