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The microbial syndicate: dysbiosis and origins of recurrent UTIs

Traditional dogma held that urine was sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed an underground microbial community, known as the urinary microbiome or ‘urobiome’ [1]. Far from being harmful, this community of microorganisms helps modulate immune responses, regulate inflammation, and...

A greener urology

Healthcare in England is responsible for 4-5% of the country’s carbon footprint which is defined as the amount of greenhouse gasses, primarily carbon dioxide, released into the atmosphere by a particular activity. The six greenhouse gasses which vary in their...

Urologist in the House!

In this series of articles I am going to show you some of the exhibits contained in the Museum of Urology, hosted on the BAUS website (www.baus.org.uk). This month, I am joined once again by Kassie Ball to discuss the...

Management of lower urinary tract foreign bodies

Of all the urological emergencies presenting to the emergency department, perhaps one of the most technically challenging cases is the patient with a foreign body in the genitourinary (GU) tract. A wide variety of GU foreign bodies have been reported...

Update on immunotherapy for non-muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) that have failed Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment are a difficult group to treat, and many may not be suitable for the preferred treatment option of radical cystectomy. Bladder-preserving treatments for BCG-unresponsive high-risk...

The burning issue of urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria colonise and proliferate in the urinary tract. These are characterised by specific clinical symptoms (dysuria, suprapubic tenderness, urgency and urinary frequency) which commonly occur alongside the finding of bacteriuria. UTIs are common –...

From body snatchers to conservative surgery: the life of Sir William Fergusson

In this series of articles I am going to show you some of the exhibits contained in the Museum of Urology, hosted on the BAUS website (www.baus.org.uk). I’ve only recently paid full attention to Sir William Fergusson (1808-1877). He was...

Challenges of catheter associated urinary tract infection: is prevention better than cure?

Catheterisation is a common medical procedure in which a catheter (a hollow flexible tube) is inserted into the bladder in order to facilitate the drainage of urine. Catheters are usually passed into the bladder via the urethra, either to be...

Introduction to prostate cryotherapy

Introduction Cryotherapy was first described by Dr James Arnott in 1850 where he used crushed ice and salt to get temperatures as low as -24oC, in the treatment of cervical and breast tumours [1]. The literature on prostatic cryotherapy dates...