Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

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Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Urinary Tract Infections
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UTI 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.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), UTI Treatment reprinted with permission from urologychannel.com
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