A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common condition that affects various organs in the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. While most infections develop and affect the lower urinary tract, they can evolve and spread to the kidneys if they’re not treated right away.
Oral Antibiotics
The first line of defense for urinary tract infections generally includes oral antibiotics. The type of antibiotics prescribed, as well as the duration for these medications, will depend on the severity of the patient’s infection and the kind of bacteria found in their system. More often than not, antibiotics for a UTI will need to be taken for about one or two weeks. Patients may stop developing symptoms from their infection a few days after taking their antibiotics. While this is a positive sign that the medication is working, patients should finish their entire regimen to ensure complete protection. Patients should report any signs of a fever, skin rash, swelling, nausea, or vomiting to their Affiliated Urologists physician.
Intravenous Antibiotics
Intravenous antibiotics are typically reserved for patients with complicated and severe infections. While oral antibiotics are highly effective for most patients, there are cases where a urinary tract infection will develop from a bacterium that is resistant to common medications. In these instances, patients will need to receive treatment from intravenous antibiotics in an outpatient or hospital setting. If recurrent or resistant UTIs are an issue for patients, an Affiliated Urologists physician may recommend several different types of antibiotics to vanquish the stubborn bacteria. Furthermore, a fourth-line medication for UTIs, which is often referred to as “broad-spectrum” antibiotic, may be used to eradicate a highly resistant bacterium.
