Available online 2 April 2024, 104075

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common type of hospital-acquired infection and can lead to serious health issues due to associated complications and frequent recurrence. E. coli is a common causative agent of these illnesses.

Various reasons drive the need for alternative treatment methods, including antibiotic resistance, recurrent infections, antibiotic side effects, and individual preferences.

Currently, alternative methods such as sonodynamic therapy (SDT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and herbal remedies are being utilized to treat infections like UTIs in many countries.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common type of nosocomial infection and severe health issues because of the difficulties and frequent recurrence. Today, alternative methods such as sonodynamic therapy (SDT), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and herbal materials use for treating infections like UTI in many countries.

We conducted searches of the biomedical databases (Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of sciences) to identify related studies from 2008-2023.

SDT aims to use ultrasound to activate a sonosensitizer, which causes a biological effect by raising reactive oxygen species (ROS). When bacteria are exposed to ROS, several important effects occur: oxidative damage, DNA damage, protein dysfunction etc. SDT with herbal medicine significantly reduced the number of colony-forming units and bactericidal activity for Klebsiella pneumonia and E. coli. PDT is a promising treatment for cancer and microbial infections, combining a photosensitiser, light and tissue molecular oxygen. It involves a photosensitizer, light source, and oxygen, with variations affecting microbial binding and bactericidal activity. Factors affecting antibacterial properties include plant type, growing conditions, harvesting, and processing. This review highlights the recent advancements in sonodynamic, photodynamic, herbal, and bio-material-based approaches in the treatment of E. coli infections.

These alternative therapies offer exciting prospects for addressing UTIs, especially in cases where traditional antibiotic treatments may be less effective. Further research and clinical studies are warranted to fully explore the potential of these innovative treatment modalities in combating UTIs and improving patient outcomes.

Sonodynamic

Photodynamic

Escherichia coli

UPEC

Urinary tract infection

Bio-material

Herbal-material

© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.