[Vaccinations in recurrent urinary tract infections--an observation study relating to health economy]. / Impfungen bei rezidivierenden bakteriellen Harnwegsinfektionen--eine Beobachtungsstudie mit gesundheitsökonomischen Aspekten.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in women. Despite the need for therapy alter-natives only the conventional treatment using antibiotics is investigated in the literature. A vaccination, however, can be a useful medical and economic alternative for the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An open, prospective, not-randomised, multicentric observation study was carried out to determine the costs and effects of a vaccination in 842 patients with recurrent urinary tract infections. The data for efficacy, safety and costs of recurrent urinary tract infections were collected via patient documentation and a standardised documentation of the physicians. RESULTS: The efficacy was rated as good to very good by 82.7 % of the physicians and 82.1 % of the patients. The values for safety show even better results. They were rated as good to very good by 92.4 % of the physicians and 90.9 % of the patients. The total costs amounted to 433 euro per patient in the six months before vaccination and decreased significantly to 238 euro in the six months after vaccination (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this observation study show a clinically relevant reduction of recurrent urinary tract infections with acceptable side effects in the six months after vaccination. As the treatment costs are reduced from a mean of 238 euro to 91 euro per patient. The healthcare insurances can also benefit from the vaccination against recurrent urinary tract infections.