A study published on 05 May 2026 in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology indicates that compounds in cranberry juice could enhance the effectiveness of the antibiotic fosfomycin against drug-resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs). Led by microbiologist Dr. Eric Déziel at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique in Montreal, Canada, researchers exposed lab-grown uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains to cranberry juice. Results showed that in 72% of strains, the juice boosted fosfomycin's activity and suppressed mutations linked to resistance, potentially by inducing bacteria to increase sugar uptake, which also raises antibiotic absorption. However, Dr. Déziel stresses that the findings are preliminary and do not confirm that drinking cranberry juice will yield the same results in humans, as it is unclear if metabolites reach the infection site. With UTIs affecting half of UK women and rising antibiotic resistance, this research suggests a promising adjunctive approach, but further studies are essential.