Antibiotics for a Urine Infection

Urinary infections, or urinary tract infections, are infections of the urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, bladder, ureters and urethra. The most common type of urinary tract infection is a bladder infection. UTIs are very common, causing more than 8.3 million doctor visits each year, according to the National Institutes of Health. In most cases, oral antibiotics are all that is needed to clear up an infection.

Symptoms

• General symptoms of a urinary tract infection include the frequent urge to urinate, pain or burning while urinating and blood in the urine. Other symptoms of a UTI are dependent on where the infection develops. People with a kidney infection may experience nausea and vomiting, a high fever, back and side pain and shakes and chills. Bladder and urethra infections can cause a low-grade fever and pelvic pain or pressure.

Treatment

• People with a urinary tract infection will be prescribed one of several types of antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, amoxicillin, nitrofurantoin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. The antibiotic that is prescribed and the duration of treatment is typically dependent on the type of bacteria that are causing the infection. Most patients taking antibiotics will begin to feel better within a day or two of starting the medication, but it is important to finish all the prescribed medication. In patients with very severe UTIs, antibiotics may need to be given orally in a hospital.

Recurrent Infections

• Some people, typically women, develop many urinary tract infections. In these cases, antibiotics are typically used differently to help treat the infection. For example, women who develop UTIs as a result of sexual activity can be prescribed single doses of antibiotics to be taken after having sex. People who have recurrent UTIs may also be given longer doses of antibiotics or be prescribed antibiotics to be taken at the first sign of an infection.

Causes

• Bacteria are responsible for causing a urinary tract infection. Urine is normally sterile, but if bacteria are introduced to the urinary tract and given a chance to multiply, an infection can result. In most cases, bacteria are first introduced into the urinary tract in the urethra but can travel through the system infecting different parts of the urinary tract.

Risk Factors

• Women are much more likely than men to develop a urinary tract infection, and women who are sexually active are even more likely to get UTI. About 20 percent of women will have a UTI in their lifetimes, according to the National Institutes of Health. Other risk factors for UTIs include diabetes or other medical conditions that compromise the immune system, prolonged use of catheters, kidney stones and using spermicides and diaphragms for birth control.