Comparing Hiprex tablets and Nitrofurantoin in women with recurrent urine infections

Bladder infections (urinary tract infections or UTI) are amongst the most common infections in women. It is estimated that almost 50% of women will experience at least one episode of UTI in their life time and almost 44% will experience a recurrence within 6 months. These infections can be very troublesome and cause issues like burning sensation when urinating or going very frequently to pass urine, lower abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, tiredness, days lost from work and sometimes admission to hospitals. While treatments are available to treat these infections, some women will experience several UTI during a year. These women may benefit from preventive treatments. In this study, we are planning to use Methenamine Hippurate or Hiprex which breaks down to a specific chemical in the bladder which can stop the bacteria growing in the bladder; it is not an antibiotic. The rationale in using this medication is that to date there has been no bacterial resistance reported to Hiprex and generally it is a well-tolerated medication with a low side effect profile. In this study, we will compare Hiprex to nitrofurantoin, an antibiotic used for many years to treat and prevent UTI. While effective, nitrofurantoin has the same implications as other antibiotics when used long-term which are resistance and side effects.