Historically, #cystitis generally was a problem for women, who otherwise were well. They suffered in silence, drank water like fish, and, perhaps, also guzzled K+ citrate and/or cranberry juice, for what they thought they were worth. Antibiotics’ arrival brought simple and convenient “pill-popping,” treatment with most getting symptom relief, while the others continued suffering quietly, so cystitis garnered little medico-scientific interest.
Today, cystitis presents very differently. A substantial minority suffer multiple recurrences and/or disease chronicity. Although women are affected more overall, the rise of the elderly and the increased survival of neuro-disabled people (MS, CVA, TBI, SCI, etc.), with their associated bladder and immune system impairments; and the vast increase in catheter use also have been adding immensely to natural and recurrent iatrogenic cystitis (#CAUTI) incidences and their complications. Today cystitis is a scourge in communities and the most common #hospitalacquiredinfection.
Cystitis’s pathogens ascend from the #bladder causing pyelonephritis, or transcend it causing #urosepsis. As an acute co-morbidity, cystitis complicates healthcare and imposes massive resource and bed blockage burdens. Through AMR our standard treatments risk therapeutic impotence, while also undermining future healthcare. Higher cystitis incidences with greater patient risks and reduced treatment capabilities indicates our convenient pill-popping approach, progressively and increasingly intolerably, is failing patients and healthcare more generally.
An analysis of the complications of standard oral antibiotic cystitis treatments, which I presented to the UKHSA on 17th June 2024, revealed our current approach lacks the generally presumed scientific underpinnings and is fundamentally flawed. The agency’s scientists agreed my analysis was sound. We need a radically new cystitis treatment strategy a.s.a.p.
Knowing this and observing the worsening situation without challenging our current treatment approach seems grossly negligent, but does responsibility lie with government agencies or healthcare professionals; and what should be done now?
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