Urine Infection (cont.)
How is UTI treated?
UTIs are treated with antibacterial drugs. The choice of drug and length of
treatment depend on the patient's history and the urine tests that identify the
offending bacteria. The sensitivity test is especially useful in helping the
doctor select the most effective drug. The drugs most often used to treat
routine, uncomplicated UTIs are trimethoprim (Trimpex), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
(Bactrim, Septra, Cotrim), amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, Wymox), nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin,
Furadantin), and ampicillin (Omnipen, Polycillin, Principen, Totacillin). A
class of drugs called quinolones includes four drugs approved in recent years
for treating UTI. These drugs include ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin),
ciprofloxacin (Cipro), and trovafloxin (Trovan).
Often, a UTI can be cured with 1 or 2 days of treatment if the infection is
not complicated by an obstruction or other disorder. Still, many doctors ask
their patients to take antibiotics for a week or two to ensure that the
infection has been cured. Single-dose treatment is not recommended for some
groups of patients, for example, those who have delayed treatment or have signs
of a kidney infection, patients with diabetes or structural abnormalities, or
men who have prostate infections. Longer treatment is also needed by patients
with infections caused by Mycoplasma or Chlamydia, which are usually treated
with tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ), or doxycycline. A
followup urinalysis helps to confirm that the urinary tract is infection-free.
It is important to take the full course of treatment because symptoms may
disappear before the infection is fully cleared.
Severely ill patients with kidney infections may be hospitalized until they
can take fluids and needed drugs on their own. Kidney infections generally
require several weeks of antibiotic treatment. Researchers at the University of
Washington found that 2-week therapy with TMP/SMZ was as effective as 6 weeks of
treatment with the same drug in women with kidney infections that did not
involve an obstruction or nervous system disorder. In such cases, kidney
infections rarely lead to kidney damage or kidney failure unless they go
untreated.
Various drugs are available to relieve the pain of a UTI. A heating pad may
also help. Most doctors suggest that drinking plenty of water helps cleanse the
urinary tract of bacteria. During treatment, it is best to avoid coffee,
alcohol, and spicy foods. And one of the best things a smoker can do for his or
her bladder is to quit smoking. Smoking is the major known cause of bladder
cancer.
Next: What are the treatment options for recurrent UTIs in women? »
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