What Does the Beginning of a UTI Feel Like?

Antibiotics are the first choice for treating urinary tract infections (UTIs).

The physician chooses antibiotics to treat your UTI based on:

• Effectiveness of the antibiotic toward the infecting bacteria.
• The severity of the infection.
• Your age group.
• Antibiotic resistance pattern.

Some of the antibiotics used to treat UTIs include:

• Beta-lactams, including penicillins and cephalosporins (Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Keflex, Duricef, Ceftin, Lorabid, Rocephin, Cephalexin, Suprax, and others); many organisms have shown resistance to some of these drugs
• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole combination antibiotic (Bactrim DS and Septra); many organisms may show resistance to this type of antibiotic
• Fluoroquinolones (Cipro, Levaquin, and Floxin) resistance is developing; avoid giving them to pregnant women or the pediatric population
• Tetracyclines (tetracycline, doxycycline, or minocycline) are used for Mycoplasma or Chlamydia infections; never use them to treat pregnant women or the pediatric population
• Aminoglycosides (gentamycin, amikacin, and tobramycin) are usually used in combination with other antibiotics to treat severe UTIs
• Macrolides (clarithromycin, azithromycin, and erythromycin) are used more often to treat some urinary problems caused by sexually transmitted diseases
• Fosfomycin (Monurol), a synthetic phosphonic acid derivative, is used for acute cystitis but not in complicated UTIs

Apart from antibiotics, cranberry juice is known to show improvement in UTIs; however, monitor for the following signs if you are drinking cranberry juice to treat UTIs:

• Upset stomach
• Diarrhea

Do not take cranberry juice if you are on blood-thinning medications such as warfarin.

Some ways to prevent UTIs include:

• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
• Use urine alkalizers that are available over the counter.
• Do not hold your urine for a long time.
• Empty your bladder before and after having sex.
• Take showers instead of baths.
• Minimize douching, spray or powder in the genital area to avoid irritation in the urethra.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing (including underpants) and dress children in loose-fitting clothing.
• Change the birth control method if it promotes bacterial growth in the urethra.
• Teach girls to wipe from the front to back while potty training.
• Use appropriate lubrication during sex. Try using a small amount of lubricant (such as K-Y Jelly) before sex if your partner is a little dry.
• Clean the anus and outer lips of the genitals every day to prevent the transmission of bacteria.