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Stubborn Urinary Tract Infections

If you are experiencing symptoms like cloudy urine, painful urination and frequent urges to urinate, you could have a urinary tract infection. Your doctor can prescribe treatment for regular and stubborn urinary tract infections.

  1. Stubborn Urinary Tract Infection

    • A urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria. It can occur within your urethra, bladder or kidneys. A stubborn urinary tract infection is one that does not clear up with standard treatment.

    Bacterial Causes

    • If your urinary tract infection is difficult to treat, then you could be infected by more than one kind of bacteria. Doctors are exploring the possibility that stubborn infections can be caused by large bacteria colonies that invade the bladder and are resistant to antibiotics.

    Physical Causes

    • Stubborn urinary tract infections also can be caused by urinary obstructions, especially those that narrow your urethra.

    Treatment

    • Urinary tract infections are treated with antibiotics taken over the course of a week or two. To clear a stubborn infection, your doctor can give you stronger antibiotics or can prescribe them for a longer period of time, such as six months to two years. She also can also perform surgery to remove any urinary tract obstruction.

    Considerations

    • When undergoing treatment, be sure to take all the antibiotics your doctor prescribes. Stopping treatment after symptoms disappear, but before you finish the course of antibiotics, could cause the infection to return.

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