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Combined phage therapy and faecal microbiota transplantation to treat recurrent urinary tract infection: a case series

McCallin S, Classen AY, Lieberknecht-Jouy SC, Abdula F, Dugas S, Gross O, Koliwer-Brandl H, Lassen S et al.

Nature microbiology, 2026

1 citation

Abstract

Recurrent urinary tract infections are recalcitrant and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections that primarily affect women. Here we combine phage therapy with faecal microbiota transplantation to decolonize the urinary and intestinal reservoirs of patients with recurrent urinary tract infections. Three women received oral and intravesical phage therapy for 8 days, and two underwent subsequent faecal microbiota transplantation. Treatments were well tolerated, and although Escherichia coli was detected in follow-up samples, patients experienced none or fewer and less severe episodes of urinary tract infection 24 months post-treatment. In a small case series, combined phage therapy and faecal microbiota transplantation was safe and led to sustained reductions in recurrence, severity and antibiotic use in women with recurrent urinary tract infections, even without complete eradication of Escherichia coli.

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Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.

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