Urinary Track Infection? AGAIN?

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.

If you wipe from back to front, the bacteria from your anus can enter your urinary tract. Also, not wearing clean underwear every day can also cause this. When you receive antibiotics, you need to take them ALL for the whole recommended time, or the bacteria remain dormant and will come back with a vengeance.

That was stupid, if you don't take the antibiotics, you can end up with a kidney infection and go into kidney failure. You can get them all the time, you need to take all the medicine prescribed

You may want to consider asking your doctor for a referral to a urologist who can help you figure out what is causing your frequent infections.