This invention relates to treating and preventing urinary tract infections. Glycerol monolaurate (GML) and/or GML-related compositions together with suitable accelerants in gel-based formulation may be used to treat urinary tract infections that may be generally diagnosed, for example, in women, catheterized patients and elderly individuals. Such a gel-based formulation kills, or inhibits the growth of, one or more pathogenic microorganisms that cause urinary tract infections.
