Treatment:

TREATMENT AT HOME

A mild urinary tract infection may go away on its own without treatment. However, antibiotics are usually recommended because there is a risk that the infection can spread to the kidneys. Antibiotics are taken by mouth, usually from 3 to 7 days. It is important that you finish all the medication.

Commonly used antibiotics include:

• Amoxicillin or Augmentin
• Cephalosporins
• Doxycycline (should not be used under age 8)
• Nitrofurantoin
• Sulfa drugs (sulfonamides)
• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
• Quinolones (should not be used in children)

Your doctor may also recommend drugs to relieve the burning pain and urgent need to urinate, and to decrease bacteria in your urine.

Such medicines include:

• Acidifying medications such as ascorbic acid to lower the concentration of bacteria in the urine
• Phenazopyridine hydrochloride (Pyridium) to reduce urgency and burning with urination

TREATMENT IN THE HOSPITAL

If you are very sick and cannot take medicines by mouth or drink enough fluids, you may be admitted to the hospital. You may also be admitted to the hospital if you:

• Are elderly
• Have kidney stones or other medical problems
• Have recently had urinary track surgery

At the hospital, you will receive fluids and antibiotics through a vein.

LONG-TERM TREATMENT

Some people have urinary tract infections that keep coming back or that do not go away with treatment. Such infections are called chronic UTIs. If you have a chronic UTI, you may need antibiotics for a long period of time, perhaps as long as 6 months to 2 years, or stronger antibiotics may be prescribed.

A urinary tract infection is considered chronic if any of the following occur:

• The infection does not respond to usual treatment
• It lasts longer than 2 weeks
• It occurs more than twice in 6 months

Your health care provider may also recommend low-dose antibiotics after acute symptoms go away.

SURGERY

If a structural (anatomical) problem is causing the infection, surgery may be recommended.

Expectations (prognosis):

A urinary tract infection is uncomfortable, but treatment is usually successful. Symptoms of a bladder infection usually disappear within 24 - 48 hours after treatment begins. If you have a kidney infection, it may take 1 week or longer for your symptoms to go away.

Complications:

• Life-threatening blood infection (sepsis) - risk is greater among the young, very old adults, and those whose bodies cannot fight infections (for example, due to HIV or cancer chemotherapy)
• Kidney damage or scarring
• Kidney infection

Calling your health care provider:

Contact your health care provider if you have symptoms of a UTI. Call right away if the following symptoms develop:

• Back or side pain
• Chills
• Fever
• Vomiting

These may be signs of a possible kidney infection.

Also call if you have already been diagnosed with a UTI and the symptoms come back shortly after treatment with antibiotics.