Cureus. 2025 Dec 5;17(12):e98511. doi: 10.7759/cureus.98511. eCollection 2025 Dec.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) represent a significant clinical challenge, traditionally managed with long-term antibiotic prophylaxis. However, growing concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance have necessitated the exploration of alternative treatment modalities. Methenamine hippurate (MH), a urinary antiseptic with a unique mechanism of action, has emerged as a promising non-antibiotic option for rUTI prevention.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of MH in the prophylaxis of rUTI, with a specific focus on patients with structural or functional abnormalities of the urinary tract and those requiring catheterization to empty their bladder.
METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted on the first 150 patients prescribed MH in a University Hospital at a Local Health Board in South Wales from April 2020 to July 2022. Patient demographics, radiological findings, functional urological status, catheter use, and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Chi-square statistical tests were used to assess associations between categorical variables and treatment outcomes.
RESULTS: The cohort comprised 132 females (88%) with a median age of 60 years. After 12 weeks of treatment, 100 (66.7%) of patients showed improvement, with about half of these (n = 46) experiencing complete resolution of UTIs and a further third (n = 35) reporting reduced frequency or severity at six months follow-up. No statistically significant difference in long-term outcomes was observed based on radiological findings (χ2 = 0.138, df = 2, p = 0.933). Similarly, there was no significant association between functional urological status and treatment outcome (χ2 = 4.763, df = 2, p = 0.092), nor between catheter use and outcome (χ2 = 4.226, df = 2, p = 0.121) Conclusions: MH demonstrates effectiveness for long-term management of rUTIs across diverse patient populations, including those with structural or functional urinary tract abnormalities and catheter users. These findings support the broader application of MH as a viable alternative to antibiotic prophylaxis, potentially reducing antimicrobial resistance while maintaining clinical efficacy.
PMID:41492622 | PMC:PMC12765357 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.98511
