title: Acupuncture in the prophylaxis of recurrent lower urinary tract infection in adult women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of acupuncture in the prevention of recurrent lower urinary tract infection (UTI) in adult women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A controlled clinical trial with three arms: an acupuncture group, a sham-acupuncture group, and an untreated control group. Patients were followed for 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  An acupuncture clinic in Bergen, Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven adult women with a history of recurrent lower UTI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute lower UTIs during the 6-month observation period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-five percent were free of lower UTI during the 6-month observation period in the acupuncture group, compared with 58% in the sham group (p < 0.05), and 36% in the control group (p < 0.01). There were half as many episodes of lower UTI per person-half-year in the acupuncture group as in the sham group, and a third as many as in the control group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture seems a worthwhile alternative in the prevention of recurring lower UTI in women.
authors.affiliation: Bryggen Medisinske Senter, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aune
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alraek
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: LiHua
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baerheim
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*