Cranberry for prevention of pyuria and bacteriuria
Trial question
What is the effect of cranberry capsules on bacteriuria plus pyuria in older females living in nursing homes?
Study design
Multi-center
Double blinded
RCT
Population
185 female patients.
Inclusion criteria: females aged 65 years or older, with or without bacteriuria plus pyuria at baseline, residing in nursing homes.
Key exclusion criteria: short term rehabilitation, pending discharge, terminal life expectancy < 1 month; on chronic suppressive antibiotic or anti-infective (i.e., mandelamine) therapy for recurrent UTI; on dialysis for end stage renal disease; unable to produce a baseline clean catch urine specimen; on warfarin therapy; history of nephrolithiasis; presence of an indwelling bladder catheter; allergy to cranberry products; or treatment with cranberry products.
Interventions
N=92 cranberry capsules (2 oral capsules once daily, containing 72 mg total of the active ingredient proanthocyanidin, equivalent to 600 mL cranberry juice).
N=93 placebo (two matching capsules once daily).
Primary outcome
Bacteriuria plus pyuria
29.1%
29%
29.1 %
21.8 %
14.6 %
7.3 %
0.0 %
Cranberry
capsules
Placebo
No significant
difference ↔
No significant difference in bacteriuria plus pyuria (29.1% vs. 29%; OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.66).
Conclusion
In females aged 65 years or older, with or without bacteriuria plus pyuria at baseline, residing in nursing homes, cranberry capsules were not superior to placebo with respect to bacteriuria plus pyuria.
Reference
Juthani-Mehta M, Van Ness PH, Bianco L et al. Effect of Cranberry Capsules on Bacteriuria Plus Pyuria Among Older Women in Nursing Homes: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2016 Nov 8;316(18):1879-1887.
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