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Urinary Tract Infection Medication: Antibiotics for UTI

Tess Thompson

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A great amount of research has gone into developing an effective strategy for urinary tract infection cure. Recent researches have suggested that the ability of bacteria to attach themselves to the cells lining the urethra is one of the major causes of occurrence of UTI. A NIH-sponsored study concluded that bacteria formed a layer to safeguard bladder in mice. An identical procedure, if established in humans, may evolve new strategies in bladder infection treatment. Women do not secrete a certain blood group antigens that may be the reason behind women being more susceptible to recurrent UTI.

Till the time the extensive research successfully coordinates all the findings to arrive at new treatments, antibiotics will remain the most common medication in the field of urinary tract infection cures.

One of the major factors that necessitate immediate attention to UTI is its capacity to take a serious turn and advance to a condition known as pyelonephritis  infection in kidneys. This condition, if not taken care of may lead to renal failure, for which the only cure available is dialysis or a kidney transplant. Both these are highly traumatic options.

Negligence in getting UTI looked into by a competent physician can even lead to another complication if the pressure regulation tissues in the kidneys are damaged. This leads to blood pressure dropping to dangerous levels.

Uncomplicated UTI is easily curable but many complicated conditions require a prolonged treatment to halt the advance of infections to the kidneys.

Anti bacterial drugs are very effective in almost all cases barring a few very complex conditions of UTI. Depending upon the results of the laboratory tests of urine whereby the offending bacteria is identified, and sensitivity tests to arrive at the most suitable antibiotic, the doctor has plenty of antibiotics to choose form.

For routine, uncomplicated urinary tract infection, trimethoprim, trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin and ampicillin are the most effective. Recently a new class of drugs has been approved for urinary tract infection cure. This class is termed as quinolones. Quinolones include four drugs, namely, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and trovafloxin.

For complicated cases of UTI, such as infections caused by Mycoplasma or Chlamydia a separate set of antibiotics  tetracycline, trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole or doxycycline  are used and have given good results.
For women who have had three UTIs, a low dose of trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole or nitrofurantoin, at bedtime, helps in minimizing risks of recurrence. Women are more prone to recurring UTI and may even need a single dose of antibiotic after sexual intercourse.