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

Nature Microbiology 2026 Open access

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Authors: Shawna E. McCallin, Annika Yanina Classen, Simone C. Lieberknecht-Jouy, Fatih Abdula, Sarah Dugas, Oliver Gross, Hendrik Koliwer‐Brandl, Swenja Lassen, Jens Scheidegger, Matthew Dunne, André Kahles, Jonas Eigler
+10 more Fedja Farowski, Paul G. Higgins, Sonja Milek, Oksana Mykolaivna Chemych, Jiemin Du, Martin J. Loessner, Thomas M. Kessler, Maria J. G. T. Vehreschild, Lorenz Leitner, Lena M. Biehl
DOI: 10.1038/s41564-026-02409-0
Cited by: 1
References: 21

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.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Bacteriophages and microbial interactions Urinary Tract Infections Management Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research

Publication details

Journal / source
Nature Microbiology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
11
Issue
8
Pages
2112–2118
Publication date
30 July 2026
Language
EN