Antibiotics for UTI

Urinary tract infection or UTI is quite common among women, though men can also get this infection at times. The term urinary tract infection is used to refer to the infection of any part of the urinary system. So, infection of the ureter, urethra, bladder, as well as the kidneys comes under the category of urinary tract infection. However, out of these, bladder infection is more common.

The infection of the urinary tract is caused by bacterial invasion of the various parts of the urinary system. Bacteria may enter the urethra from the anus or the gastrointestinal tract and the vagina, and then move upwards to the bladder and other parts of the urinary tract. Women have a shorter urethra, which is located very close to the anus and vagina and this might explain their increased vulnerability to urinary tract infection. The bacteria that is found to be mainly responsible for causing urinary tract infection is Escherichia coli or E.coli bacteria. Urinary tract infection is usually treated with antibiotics.

Medications for Urinary Tract Infection

The signs of urinary tract infection are, pain or a burning sensation when urinating, strong and frequent urge to urinate, presence of blood in urine or hematuria, discharge of a small amount of urine during urination, cloudy or milky urine, smelly urine and pain in the pubic region.

Vomiting, nausea and fever can be some other symptoms that can accompany infection of the urinary tract. On observing any of these symptoms, it is imperative to evaluate the condition by visiting a certified physician. The physicians usually perform a few tests and examination, and if UTI is found to be the cause of these symptoms, then he or she would prescribe an appropriate antibiotic to cure the infection.

The antibiotics that are more commonly recommended by physicians for the treatment of urinary tract infection are, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and fluoroquinolones.

Some other classes of commonly used antibiotics for this condition are, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, penicillin like, amoxicillin and cephalosporins. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is a sulfa antibiotic and hence cannot be used by people allergic to sulfa drugs. This medication can also affect the effectiveness of contraceptives. Fluoroquinolones are also known as quinolones and it includes antibiotics like, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and levofloxacin. These medicines should not be used by pregnant women.

The tetracycline antibiotics that are usually used for UTI treatment are, doxycycline, tetracycline and minocycline. These antibiotics are primarily used for treating UTI caused by Mycoplasma or Chlamydia. On the other hand, aminoglycosides are employed only for serious bacterial infections. Examples of aminoglycosides are, gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin. Apart from these, nitrofurantoin, fosfomycin and doripenem are some other antibiotics for this infection.

Antibiotics in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

All antibiotics are not safe for use during pregnancy. Pregnant women should be very careful while taking any kind of medications including, antibiotics. They should always confirm with their physician or health care provider before taking medications for an underlying health condition.

During pregnancy, the treatment usually involves the use of antibiotics like, cephalosporins, nitrofurantoin fosfomycin, erythromycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin, sulfisoxazole and cephalexin.

For recurrent urinary tract infection in pregnant women, doctors can prescribe nitrofurantoin. Antibiotics, which are to be avoided during pregnancy are, tetracycline such as, doxycycline, tetracycline and minocycline, and fluoroquinolones such as, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and levofloxacin.

Like pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers also have to maintain a few precautions while taking medications, as some medications can be excreted in breast milk. The antibiotics that can be used for the treatment of UTI in breastfeeding women are, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, cephalosporins, nitrofurantoins, sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin.

One should these antibiotics only under the supervision of a physician. The antibiotic that is to be used for the treatment of a specific case of UTI can be determined only after evaluating the condition, and this can be done only by a certified physician.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women need to be more careful while taking any kind of medications. They should strictly avoid self medicating with drugs and supplements, in order to avoid any undesirable effects on their health, as well as the health of the unborn baby.