EPFL researchers have found a way to help bladder cells fight bacteria that remain hidden and can cause recurrent urinary tract infections. In preclinical models, the OM-89 treatment boosted the activity of lysosomes, the cells’ internal clean-up machinery.
The study also indicated that the approach increases the amount of antibiotic that accumulates inside bladder cells, where the bacteria lodge. The results are preclinical and do not change the approved use of the medicine, but they offer a promising explanation for improving the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections.


