The Unlikely Buddha

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a significant burden, often leading to repeated antibiotic use, which contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. Methenamine hippurate offers a promising alternative as a non-antibiotic prophylactic treatment for recurrent UTIs. **How Methenamine Hippurate Works** Methenamine hippurate is an oral antiseptic that works by releasing formaldehyde in acidified urine. Formaldehyde has broad antibacterial activity, helping to prevent bacterial growth in the urinary tract. Unlike antibiotics, methenamine does not directly kill bacteria but creates an environment in the bladder that is hostile to bacterial colonization. This mechanism makes it effective against *E. coli*, the most common UTI-causing pathogen. **Effectiveness of Methenamine Hippurate** Methenamine hippurate has been shown to be a viable alternative to antibiotics for preventing recurrent UTIs: - It has been found to be as effective as daily low-dose ant...