Cystitis: One in 10 women suffer from it each year

Cystitis: 1 in 10 women suffer from it every year

In France, every 30 seconds a woman reports a urinary tract infection. 20% of them will have a new stomach attack within six months. Indicated: Antibiotic treatments that disrupt the bacterial flora and lead to chronic infections.

One in ten women suffers from a UTI each year. Cystitis: This is the name given to this inflammation of the bladder, which mainly affects women, which results in Burning sensation during urination associated with frequent urge to urinate. Origin in 80% of cases: Escherichia coliIt is a bacteria naturally found in the intestines that colonizes the urinary tract. Previously, the reaction was simple: take antibiotics to eradicate coliform bacteria (cystitis is the second reason women are prescribed antibiotics). But things are changing. An American study* showed that Germicides cause a recurrence rate of 40%. Because if the disease-causing germs in the bladder are destroyed, antibiotics protect the intestines that survive and spread again. While at the same time destroying the beneficial bacteria that inhabit microorganisms. The snake that bites its own tail.

The role of germs

Thus, scientific discoveries made it possible to highlight the role of biofilms, a kind of “layer” on the inner wall of the bladder consisting of bacteria that are highly resistant to antibiotics. This biofilm may be the cause of recurrent cystitis (three seizures a year) It is very difficult to treat. About ten years ago, we knew nothing about the finer details of the microbial flora. Today, researchers have identified the main bacterium found in biofilm: Gardnerella vaginalis. Due to an imbalance in the vaginal flora, these bacteria enter the bladder after intercourse, and reactivate Escherichia coli asleep from a previous injury. They begin to multiply again, causing another cystitis that can progress to pyelonephritis, an upper urinary tract infection that can be very serious. These findings help explain why sexual activity is associated with urinary tract infections. The solution to protect against it is going through first and foremost Good personal hygiene.

*Source: A study conducted by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and published in May 2022 in Nature Microbiology.