Chronic UTI Australia Inc.

04/02/2026

Proud to share this important conversation with Dr. Malcolm Starkey in Melbourne — a good friend and longtime supporter of Chronic UTI Australia 💙

The test most commonly used to diagnose UTIs was developed in the 1950s and was never intended for this purpose — yet it’s still considered the global gold standard, despite failing many patients.

In this interview with Live UTI Free, Dr Starkey explains why standard urine cultures miss infections, how bacteria can hide in the bladder wall and what this means for people with ongoing symptoms and negative tests.

This is a must-watch conversation for patients, clinicians and anyone who wants to understand why UTI care urgently needs to evolve.

🎥 WATCH NOW: https://youtu.be/jtWOTqOGBOc

Thanks to Dr Starkey for his dedication to asking the hard questions and pushing this field forward — patients everywhere are better for it 🙏 💙 😊

02/02/2026

***𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭!***

We’re kicking off 2026 by sharing a snapshot of what we achieved in 2025—and what’s already underway for a big year of advocacy ahead.

From progress on recognition and better care for chronic UTI, to our national Take Action campaign, research collaboration, and plans for 2026, there’s lots to catch up on.

👉 If you haven't subscribed to our newsletter yet, you can do that here: https://chronicutiaustralia.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=20de6dc323de134e96f6f191e&id=a8d4b63c84

Thank you for being part of our community and helping keep chronic UTI on the national agenda 💙

23/01/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐲𝐞𝐭? 💙

It features almost 50 real people living with chronic UTI who openly share their recovery journeys. From the struggle to get a correct diagnosis to finally finding treatments that work, these stories cover it all.

If you haven’t already, take a moment to dive in—you’re sure to find a story that resonates with you.
👉 https://www.chronicutiaustralia.org.au/patient-stories/

13/01/2026

𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐔𝐓𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧

Australia is leading the world in recognising chronic UTIs after researchers uncovered the first documented case of bacteria hiding inside a child’s bladder cells, making them unreachable by standard antibiotics. The breakthrough highlights why many women and children suffer years of recurring, debilitating UTIs despite repeated treatment, and why new diagnostics, specialist care and updated guidelines are urgently needed to properly detect and treat these hidden infections. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫-𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞.

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Natasha Robinson, The Australian, 2 January 2026

"Australia will become the first country to establish a patient database of children suffering urinary tract infections that fail to be eradicated by antibiotic treatment, and evidence is growing stronger that highly prevalent chronic infections are routinely not being recognised by medicine.

"University of Sydney researchers have published the world’s first case study of a child infected with bacteria in the cells of the bladder wall, where the bacteria could not be reached by antibiotics, in a highly significant addition to the medical literature that has formed the basis for ongoing research as to the causes of chronic UTI.

"Most doctors are unaware that bacteria can pe*****te the wall of the bladder to form intracellular communities where pathogens hide, only to be released into the bladder after a course of antibiotics ceases, resulting in a recurrence of UTI infection.

"This is despite the phenomenon of embedded infection being recognised by science based on laboratory studies two decades ago.

"Women and children who suffer ongoing UTI symptoms often are told they are simply susceptible to these infections and should drink more water or look after their hygiene better. Sufferers are prescribed several rounds of antibiotics that do nothing to treat the underlying chronic infection.

"Prophylactic antibiotics often are prescribed in a half-dosage regimen, but patients report this does not treat or prevent chronic infections in the long term and exacerbates antibiotic resistance.

"A case report of a 14-year-old girl from Sydney who suffered debilitating chronic UTI symptoms, cared for by the Children’s Hospital at Westmead pediatric urologist Aniruddh Deshpande, has been published in the journal of the American Society of Microbiology and now presents the first example in the world in published academic literature of long-term persistence of urinary bacterial infection going undetected in a severely symptomatic adolescent.

"The girl had suffered more than six years of persistent UTI symptoms and associated urinary incontinence, and had been treated repeatedly with antibiotic courses that provided only temporary relief.

"Professor Deshpande performed a cystoscopy, which allowed him to see inside the patient’s bladder, where he found severe inflammation and altering of the cells of the bladder wall. Subsequent urinary analysis identified extensive intracellular bacterial communities embedded within urothelial cells – the first time in the world embedded bacteria had been identified in the bladder cells of a patient with chronic UTI.

"These intracellular communities within cells are hypothesised to form bacterial reservoirs that seed further urinary reinfection when antibiotics are ceased." Read more here:

Australia will become the first country to establish a patient database of children suffering urinary tract infections that fail to be eradicated by antibiotic treatment, and evidence is growing stronger that highly prevalent chronic infections are routinely not being recognised by medicine.

25/12/2025

🎄 Merry Christmas🎄

As the year comes to a close, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to our patient community for your trust & support over the past year. We’re so grateful to walk alongside you 💛.

Our social media support will be taking a break in January, so our channels may be a little quieter — but our volunteers are still here and can be contacted via our website or by email - contact@chronicutiaustralia.org.au

Wishing you a gentle, peaceful Christmas and a hopeful new year ✨.

23/12/2025

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 — 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿

2025 was a year of meaningful progress for people living with chronic UTI in Australia. With the support of our community, volunteers and advocates, we achieved important milestones:

• Increased recognition of chronic UTI as a serious and ongoing condition
• A first-of-its-kind position statement from the Urological Society of Australia & New Zealand
• Expanded patient education resources and a refreshed website
• The 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 campaign, calling on Government for better testing, treatment, research funding and education
• Participation in research initiatives, including an mRNA vaccine study advisory group with the University of Technology
• Ongoing advocacy through health events and clinician engagement

You can read our full year-in-review and the Annual Report below.

Thank you to everyone who stood with us, shared their experiences, and helped amplify our voice. With growing momentum, we are being heard and making an impact — and we’re ready to keep going in 2026 💛

https://www.chronicutiaustralia.org.au/looking-back-at-2025-what-we-made-possible-together/

Looking back at 2025: What we made possible together by Chronic UTI Australia | Dec 22, 2025 | InformationLooking back at 2025: What we made possible togetherDec 22, 2025 | Information2025 was a year of real progress for Chronic UTI Australia. From advocacy to education, supporting research and buil...

23/11/2025

Do you have a chronic UTI story?

We’re building a list of people willing to share their lived experience—through interviews, media stories, case studies and meetings—to help raise awareness of chronic UTI.

If this sounds like you, visit our Share Your Story page and complete the online form.

If you’ve already shared your story with us, thank you 💛.

Patient voices can make a real difference!

https://www.chronicutiaustralia.org.au/share-your-story/

19/11/2025

UTIs aren't for the faint-hearted - and if you're a woman or AFAB person reading this, you'd know that all too well.

For many, chronic UTIs are not just a passing pain but a long-term, debilitating battle that too often goes unrecognised.

With the recent release of the Inquiry into Women's Pain report we hope it's time those living with chronic UTI are finally taken seriously.

Thank you Georgie Purcell - Animal Justice Party MP for your support.

15/11/2025

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲

Thank you to everyone who’s taken part in our 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 campaign to raise awareness of 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗨𝗧𝗜 and push for change in how UTIs are recognised, diagnosed and treated in Australia.

Your letters to MPs made a real impact. Following your lead, Chronic UTI Australia wrote to 225 federal MPs and Senators, sharing patient experiences and calling for national leadership to improve outcomes and reduce the health and economic costs of poorly managed UTIs.

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
Since September, we’ve met with politicians and advisers across all major parties—Labor, Liberal, Greens and Independents. Each meeting included a patient representative who bravely shared their lived experience. Watch the reel to see who we met and whether your local MP was one of them.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱
We highlighted how outdated UTI tests and guidelines are failing patients, leading to chronic infections invisible to current diagnostics.

𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿:
• Recognition of chronic UTI as a serious public health issue
• An inquiry or expert review into system failures
• Updated national clinical guidelines
• Funding for a specialist clinic
• Investment in better diagnostics and treatments

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗿
The response has been overwhelmingly supportive. Many MPs were aware of chronic UTI or had a personal connection. They acknowledged the urgent need for better care and offered guidance on next steps, including the possibility of a parliamentary inquiry.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁
Meetings continue into December and early next year. If you haven’t written to your MP, there’s still time—every letter strengthens the patient voice.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved—especially our incredible patient advocates: Mel, Paige, Marilyn, Monica, Pippa, Kylie, Danae, Imelda, Rachel and Helen. Your courage is driving real change.

Together, we’re making chronic UTI visible—and ensuring patients are heard.

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱: write to your MP, share the campaign, or donate to support advocacy and materials:
🔗 chronicutiaustralia.org.au/take-action/

13/11/2025

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
Thanks to everyone who’s taken part in our 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 campaign to raise awareness of 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗨𝗧𝗜 and push for change in how UTIs are recognised, diagnosed and treated in Australia.

Your letters to MPs made a real impact. Following your lead, Chronic UTI Australia wrote directly to 𝟮𝟮𝟱 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, sharing patient experiences and calling for government leadership to improve patient outcomes and reduce the wider health and economic costs of poorly managed UTIs.

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
Since September, we’ve met with politicians and advisers from across all major parties and most states—including Labor, Liberal, Greens and Independents, both online and in Canberra.

Each meeting included a patient representative who courageously shared their lived experience of chronic UTI. You can scroll across for the full list of who we’ve met and see if your local MP was one of them!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱
We highlighted how outdated UTI tests and treatment guidelines are failing patients, leading to chronic infections that are invisible to current diagnostics.

𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿:
• Formal recognition of chronic UTI as a serious public health issue
• An inquiry or expert review into system failures
• Updated national clinical guidelines, including guidelines for chronic UTI
• Funding for a specialist research and treatment clinic
• Investment in better diagnostics and treatments for all forms of UTI.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗿
The response from politicians has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive. Many were already aware of chronic UTI or had a personal connection to the issue. They acknowledged the urgent need for better care and offered guidance on next steps — including the possibility of a parliamentary inquiry and introductions to key decision-makers.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁
We still have meetings scheduled into December and early next year, and we’ll continue engaging with MPs who are exploring ways to move this issue forward.

If you haven’t yet written to your local MP, there’s still time! Visit our Take Action page on the website for easy instructions. Every letter helps amplify the patient voice and keeps chronic UTI on the national agenda.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 💛
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s taken part—from those who wrote to MPs, to our incredible patient advocates who supported us in meetings and spoke with conviction: 𝗠𝗲𝗹, 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗲, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆𝗻, 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮, 𝗣𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗮, 𝗞𝘆𝗹𝗶𝗲, 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗲, 𝗜𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗮, 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻. Your stories and knowledge are powerful and help drive real change.

Together, we’re making chronic UTI visible—and making sure patients are finally heard.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱
It’s not over yet! You can still help by writing to your MP, sharing our campaign on your social media, or donating to help fund important work like advocacy trips to Canberra and creating high-quality materials that ensure chronic UTI remains on the national agenda. Visit our 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 campaign to see how you can get involved: https://www.chronicutiaustralia.org.au/take-action/

Andrea Sherwin
Co-founder/secretary
Chronic UTI Australia
November 2025

27/10/2025

💛 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗨𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 💛

Chronic UTI Australia is a 100% volunteer-run, non-profit supporting people affected by chronic UTI and driving change in awareness, testing, and treatment.

Do you own or work for a business that could partner with us?

Your sponsorship can:
🌿 Support vital advocacy
🌿 Align your brand with purpose
🌿 Help expand our awareness and education work

Big or small, one-off or ongoing — we would love to hear from you.
💌 Email contact@chronicutiaustralia.org.au or message us to learn more.

21/09/2025

New recurrent UTI guideline update by the American Urological Association (AUA) - Emphasises Treating People, Not Just Tests

The updated guidance reflects the growing understanding of the urinary microbiome and emphases that clinicians should no longer rely on the findings of standard urine culture or any other bacterial detection method as a substitute for clinical judgement.

Symptom resolution is now considered more important than simply eradicating bacteria. If someone doesn’t have symptoms, treatment may not be needed—even if tests are positive.

The guidelines aim to reduce confusion caused by newer, more sensitive testing methods, which sometimes detect bacteria that aren’t causing symptoms.

Guideline amendment chair, Dr. A. Lenore Ackerman, says:

“We wanted to make sure to bring that focus back to the idea that we treat patients and not tests. If patients don't have symptoms, there's no need to treat them, and if they do have symptoms, we should be focused on managing the symptoms, regardless of what our tests say.”

A. Lenore Ackerman, MD, PhD, discusses the renewed emphasis on symptom resolution over microbial eradication in the new AUA guideline for recurrent uUTI in women.