UTI following BCG – how often should this happen?

Hi trynab_stoical . I've not had BCG but being on here for some time, we have seen that some people are more susceptible than others with UTIs. It's something that comes up now and again. I've had more than twenty flexible cystoscopies over the years. A long time ago a nurse told me that cystoscopies and catheters can cause UTIs and was advised to drink cranberry juice regularly. This is supposed to have some sort of anti bacterial effect. Don't know if there is any scientific truth in this, but I have a glass every morning with my breakfast. May not do any good but shouldn't do any harm. Best wishes.

Hi trynab_stoical and rily, as I understand it, cranberry juice works by somehow making it harder for any bugs present to stick [''adhere'] to the bladder lining. Be warned that many cranberry juice drinks have lots of sugar in as the stuff is naturally so bitter. Sugar is best avoided from any source when trying to avoid a UTI as it feeds the bugs. [So you may also do better to avoid close-to-sugar things like white flour for the time being] When my OH had a spell of UTIs I got cranberry juice powder capsules, which seemed to do the trick and contained no added sugar, and of course you don't taste the contents. 

The other self-help remedy was actually recommended to me well over 40 years ago my my old-school GP. [I was in the early stages of cystitis] This is to get a bottle of Robinson's Lemon Barley [NOT the 'fruit-and' feeble stuff]. Dilute to instructions and get through the lot in 24 hours. He said  " If your symptoms have not gone tomorrow, come back and then I will give you the antibiotics." Needless to say his judgement was spot on and I did not need to go back. With the Lemon Barley, apparently it alters the chemical balance in a way that doesn't hurt you but hinders the bugs from multiplying, while the volume washes them out.

Hope this helps, 

Denby

Great advice will get some as having bcg this morning. Thankfully haven't had a UTI yet with bcg but one never knows when it might come. Thanks Denby. 

Sorry to hear this.I never had BCG but had plenty of infections following cystoscopies and TURBT.I hope they are giving you the correct antibiotics as some of the hospital acquired infections are hard to get rid of.Before bladder removal following a TURBT I picked up a rarer type of streptococcus which took a long time to grow.Eventually the nurse phoned and said it was an infection and not a bacteria she had come across before.I wished I hadn’t come across it either as it took 3 or may be 4 rounds of antibiotics to shift.The doctor said it was a hospital acquired infection more usual after dental procedures.I asked to be re tested just to make sure ir was gone which was done.I hope it goes soon and that you can get back to treatment.Love and best wishes Jane 

Thanks all for your answers. I still don’t know what an acceptable level of infection risk is – too many confounding factors I suppose -but I’ve learned stuff. I looked again at the cranberry juice research and realise I was too dismissive of that. I’d read ONE paper that said nah, it’s a myth, so I didn’t bother after that but after reading your comments I looked again and I can see that there’s plenty more research that says it’s helpful. What with the beetroot juice and the nettle root tea and the green tea, it’s hard to find room for yet more liquids but I’ll try!

Hi, I symapthize

Sorry didn't finish. I've just finished 15 BCGs  spread  over 12 months.  In particular in the induction phase of 6 BCGs I had a lot of utis. The oncology nurse said it was due to the catheter and that it was difficult to avoid introducing bugs. The urology registrar  prescribed nitrofurantoin for me to "self start" if I developed a uti as this antibiotic doesn't interfere with the BCG effect. Also they sent a note to my GP saying only to treat with this antibiotic.  I think the main thing is to drink as much water as possible to try to flush out any bugs before they start getting a grip. I like the taste of lemon barley so I prefer that but I'm not sure about any additional beneficial effect of lemon barley or cranberry. I always have dipstix (you can get them on line, I usually buy Siemens). This means that I can quickly see if I've got an UTI or its "just" bladder discomfort after BCG.   

Sorry about the big type. As you can guess this is my first time posting here although Ive been following this forum for a couple of years and found it very helpful. I've had Bladder cancer for 10 years but with all the delays to the regular cystoscopies  during the pandemic I ended up with a G3 more aggressive cancer and hence the referral for BCG.

Hi Shrimp and a welcome in to the group. Sorry to hear what you have been through. I hope you find it helpful and supportive here.  I hope all goes well with the BCG. Best wishes.

dipstix - noted