Chronic UTI Australia Inc.

09/03/2026

REQUEST: Volunteers wanted to help with media campaign for new UTI antibiotic.

has been contacted by a pharmaceutical company looking for people with acute and recurrent UTI interested in sharing their story.

This is part of a national media campaign planned to coincide with the potential TGA approval of a new antibiotic for uncomplicated UTI, which is expected to occur around August this year.

If you would be comfortable speaking with print and/or TV journalists about your UTI experience, please contact Deirdre Pinto at deirdre@chronicutiaustralia.org.au and she will put you in touch with the pharmaceutical company.

Thank you.

05/03/2026

Chronic UTI Australia stands with the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) in urging urgent action to address the growing funding crisis in Australian medical research.

Australian Society for Research (ASMR)

03/03/2026

We’re looking for someone in the Australian community who’s confident, creative and social media–savvy to collaborate on a short video project for our channels.

If you’re comfortable on camera and passionate about engaging and supporting our patient community, we’d love to hear from you. This project is all about building support and strengthening connections across the patient network.

Please note: This project has a short turnaround, so we’re keen to connect with someone quickly.

Interested? Get in touch with us to learn more! Email: contact@chronicutiaustralia.org.au

03/03/2026

Researchers in the UK are launching one of the first major clinical trials focused specifically on chronic UTI, which is described as potential breakthrough for those living with chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Experts believe the research could help transform how chronic UTIs are diagnosed and managed, potentially leading to improved care pathways for patients who currently struggle to get answers.

Many in the chronic UTI community are cautiously hopeful that this signals growing recognition of our long-overlooked condition 🙏.

If the trial proves that the treatment is safe and effective, it could encourage other NHS doctors to use the same technique at more clinics

23/02/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗨𝗧𝗜-𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻.

Researchers at Monash University are investigating an immune-targeted approach that goes beyond antibiotics, focusing on reducing harmful inflammation that can lead to kidney scarring.

While still early-stage, this work highlights the importance of deeper scientific understanding of UTIs and their long-term impacts.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common and serious bacterial illnesses affecting Australian children. Beyond the immediate pain and distress, they can leave lasting kidney scars and increase the risk of chronic kidney disease later in life.

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/