Urinary Tract Infection

Home » Urinary Tract Infection » Treatment

Treatment

Bladder infections, kidney infections, and other urinary tract infections are often treated with antibacterial drugs. The type of drug used and the duration of treatment depend on the type of bacteria. Most UTIs are treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (e.g., Bactrim®, Cotrim®, Septra®), amoxicillin (e.g., Amoxil®, Trimox®), or fluoroquinolones (e.g., Levaquin®, Cipro®). The infection may improve within a couple of days, but 1 to 2 weeks of medication may be prescribed to prevent a kidney infection.

UTIs that are caused by bacteria such as chlamydia trachomatis and mycoplasma hominis require a longer course of treatment with tetracycline (e.g., Achromycin®), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or doxycycline (e.g., Periostat®).

Infections complicated by bladder outlet obstructions (e.g., bladder stones, benign prostatic hyperplasia [BPH, enlarged prostate]) and other risk factors (e.g., spinal cord injury) may require surgery to correct the cause of UTI.

Kidney infections may require hospitalization and as many as 6 weeks of antibiotic treatment to prevent serious kidney damage.

Over-the-counter pain relievers (e.g., Tylenol®, Advil®) and a heating pad may be used to relieve discomfort caused by UTI. Drinking plenty of water helps to cleanse bacteria out of the urinary tract. Coffee, alcohol, and smoking should be avoided.

Frequent UTI (3 or more per year) may be treated with low-dose antibiotics for 6 months or longer or with a 1 to 2 day course when symptoms appear.

Follow up urinalysis is performed after treatment to make sure that the urinary tract is bacteria free.

Prevention

The following measures can reduce the risk for bladder infections and other UTIs:

• Avoid products that may irritate the urethra (e.g., bubble bath, scented feminine products).
• Cleanse the genital area before sexual intercourse.
• Change soiled diapers in infants and toddlers promptly.
• Drink plenty of water to remove bacteria from the urinary tract.
• Do not routinely resist the urge to urinate.
• Take showers instead of baths.
• Urinate after sexual intercourse.
• Women and girls should wipe from front to back after voiding to prevent contaminating the urethra with bacteria from the anal area.
• Stop smoking (nicotine irritates the bladder).

© 1998-2008 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Urinary Tract Infection Resources

	Join Our Urinary Tract Infection Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar.