Can You Get Bladder Infection From Antibiotics

Research And Statistics: How Many People Get Kidney Infections

The Cleveland Clinic estimates that each year between 3 and 7 out of 10,000 people in the United States develop a kidney infection.

Kidney infections are much more common among pregnant women, occurring in about 2 percent of pregnancies.

There are about 100,000 hospital visits for UTIs each year in the United States, most of which are related to kidney infections, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders .

One important area of research for kidney infection is antibiotic resistance when bacteria contain a way to block the effect of the drugs designed to kill them. Currently, guidelines for treating kidney infection recommend adding intravenous antibiotics to oral drugs when a certain percentage of bacteria from a urine sample show signs of resistance.

Treatment for kidney infections has largely stayed the same over the last several years, says Amin S. Herati, MD, an assistant professor of urology at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. But, Dr. Herati says, there are some new therapies in the pipeline that are very exciting.

One promising potential treatment on the horizon, says Herati, is bacteriophage therapy, which involves injecting a virus that targets specific bacteria, causing them to burst and die. This approach could be useful for UTIs and kidney infections in which antibiotic resistance is a problem.

When To Contact A Doctor

If a person suspects that they have a UTI, they should ask a healthcare professional for advice about the best way to treat it.

Antibiotics may not always be necessary, but it is still important to seek medical attention. This reduces the risk of developing a more severe infection that is harder to treat.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about treating UTIs.

Up Your Vitamin C Intake

Theres some scientific evidence that increasing your vitamin C intake can help your body fight off infections, including those in the urinary tract. Thats because vitamin C can increase urine acidity, giving it antibacterial capabilities.

In one study, pregnant women who took 100 mg of vitamin C had less than half the risk of developing a UTI than the control group.

If you want to use vitamin C to treat or prevent a UTI, talk to your provider, who can help you decide how much to supplement. Another way to increase vitamin C intake is by eating foods that are rich in the vitamin, like red peppers, kiwi, and citrus fruits.

If you have a current UTI, citrus fruit and juice may irritate your bladder, so be sure to monitor your symptoms if you decide to up your vitamin C intake.

Read Also: How To Get A Bigger Bladder

Recommended Reading: What Antibiotics Help A Sinus Infection

When Urinary Tract Infections Keep Coming Back

If you are prone to recurrent UTIs, you can head them off before they take hold.

Unless youre in the fortunate minority of women who have never had a urinary tract infection , you know the symptoms well. You might feel a frequent urgency to urinate yet pass little urine when you go. Your urine might be cloudy, blood-tinged, and strong-smelling. For 25% to 30% of women whove had a urinary tract infection, the infection returns within six months.

If you have repeated UTIs, youve experienced the toll they take on your life. However, you may take some comfort in knowing that they arent likely to be the result of anything youve done. Recurrent UTIs arent due to poor hygiene or something else that women have brought on themselves. Some women are just prone to UTIs, says infectious diseases specialist Dr. Kalpana Gupta, a lecturer in medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Recommended Reading: How To Reduce Tooth Infection Without Antibiotics

Apple Cider Vinegar Inhibits Urinary Bacterial Growth

Raw, organic, apple cider vinegar is rich in enzymes that prevent bacterial growth.

It contains acetic acid that kills resistant bacteria. It has been shown to boost your immune system by helping the body to eliminate toxins.

To help heal UTIs, try mixing one Tablespoon with a glass of water three times per day.

I always take this natural remedy for bladder infection with baking soda and water, to lessen the strong vinegar taste.

But, if you still hate the taste, you can try it in pill form:

Garlic has strong natural antibacterial properties that help kill bacteria in the urinary tract as well.

Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory. High in allicin and glutathione .

I use garlic to treat colds, flus, UTIs, and yeast infections, so basically everything that ails me!

Garlic has also been reported to decrease pain and burning! I love garlic for its many uses, as well as wonderful flavor and aroma in cooking!

If available, I always use the organic or organically grown version of things to keep pesticides and GMOs out of my body.

I dont like the thought of eating bug spray, so I personally use this brand of organically grown garlic.

Its cheap, organically grown, and best of all it works!

I also use marshmallow root when I have a sore throat for the same reason. Helps with the pain and burning when you are screaming!

As always, I opt for the organic versions of supplements that give me the most bang for my buck.

With marshmallow root, I use this powder:

Also Check: Can Antibiotics Help An Abscessed Tooth

Do You Need To See A Doctor To Get Antibiotics For A Uti

You need to speak with your doctor or a licensed medical professional to be prescribed antibiotics for a UTI. This can usually be done in person, at the doctor, or over the phone.

If this is your first UTI or your symptoms are severe, it may be helpful to get treated in person. You may also want to consider an in-person visit with your healthcare professional to rule out sexually transmitted infections if you are sexually active or have multiple sexual partners.

Complications Of Urinary Tract Infections

Delayed treatment for UTIs can lead to complications. Most UTIs cause no lasting damage if they are treated quickly. But if left untreated, UTIs can lead to complications that include:

• Recurring infections
• Narrowing of the urethra in men
• A potentially life-threatening infection called sepsis, especially when kidneys are infected

You May Like: Can You Spread Chlamydia While On Antibiotics

Should You Get Antibiotics For Uti How To Get Your Uti Treated

By State Urgent Care

If youre a woman, you have a good chance of getting a urinary tract infection at some point in your life. If youve already had one, you may be at risk of getting another. But men can get UTIs too.

UTIs are extremely common. Theyre a result of bacteria entering the urethra and taking hold. They have the potential to be very damaging, but there are some easy ways for you to treat UTIs before things get that far.

Were going to discuss antibiotics for UTI in this article, as well as other methods you can try out and start feeling some relief.

Read Also: Antibiotics For Reptile Respiratory Infection

Uti After Antibiotics: What Are The Potential Causes

Why can the symptoms of UTI after antibiotics show up? What could be the potential causes behind urinary tract infection symptoms after taking antibiotics? In dentistry, some cases may require patients to take antibiotics before dental surgery. Will there be a possibility to develop urinary tract infections after these antibiotics? As a patient, we want every procedure to go smoothly before and after. Side effects are one of the factors we often feel scared of. So, lets find out the relationship between UTI symptoms and antibiotics.

Don’t Miss: Antibiotics And Thrush In Mouth

What Happens If An Antibiotic Doesnt Work For A Urinary Tract Infection

Antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment for urinary tract infections , most of which are caused by a bacteria called Escherichia Coli . Infections of the lower urinary tract, which includes bladder infections , are the most common type of UTI and are usually treated with a 3-5 day course of antibiotics. Sometimes, however, the antibiotic prescribed to treat a bladder infection doesnt work.

If you suspect your antibiotic isnt working you should promptly contact your healthcare provider. Left untreated a UTI may become more serious and in rare cases cause permanent or life-threatening complications.

Recommended Reading: What Are The Symptoms Of Advanced Bladder Cancer

Cut Bladder Irritants From Your Diet

When you have a UTI, caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, nicotine, carbonated drinks, and artificial sweeteners can irritate your bladder further, making it harder for your body to heal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Focus on healthy foods, such as high-fiber carbohydrates , that are good for your digestive health, says Holly Lucille, ND, RN, a naturopathic doctor in private practice in West Hollywood, California, and the author of Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Womans Guide to Safe, Natural Hormone Health.

You May Like: How To Treat Ear Infection Without Antibiotics

How To Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

Here are some simple tips that you can do to avoid UTIs. Applying them will be beneficial.

• The very first thing that you should maintain is to drink plenty of water. Water is the best way to flush out the bacteria causing UTI. Other individuals prefer drinking cranberry juice. However, it is still necessary to consult with the doctor, especially those taking warfarin .
• Never hold your urine. It would be best to urinate when you felt the need to. It is a habit we need to teach our children.
• After bowel movements, wipe from front to back direction.
• Additionally, urinating after a sexual interaction is necessary to wash away the bacteria.
• Moreover, it would be best to ask your doctor the best birth control method.
• Meanwhile, wearing loose-fitting clothes, including pants, would be better.
• Lastly, uncircumcised boys should learn how to wash the foreskin properly.

Generally speaking, it is also essential to practice good hygiene. Eating a healthy diet including fruits and vegetables may also help prevent UTI.

References:

Urinary Tract Infection, Familydoctor.org, Updated October 30, 2018,

What is a Urinary Tract Infection in Adults?, Urologyhealth.org, Updated April 2019,

Common Side Effects With Antibiotic Use

Each antibiotic is responsible for its own unique list of side effects, and the list is usually extensive. Be sure to discuss your individual antibiotic side effects with your healthcare provider. However, there are side effects that are common to most antibiotics, regardless of class or drug:

Related: Common Side Effects from Antibiotics, Allergies and Reactions

Read Also: Excede Antibiotic For Cattle Withdrawal

Does Cranberry Juice Prevent A Uti

Some patients may want to use cranberry or cranberry juice as a home remedy to treat a UTI. Cranberry juice has not been shown to cure an ongoing bacterial infection in the bladder or kidney.

Cranberry has been studied as a preventive maintenance agent for UTIs. Studies are mixed on whether cranberry can really prevent a UTI. Cranberry may work by preventing bacteria from sticking to the inside of the bladder however, it would take a large amount of cranberry juice to prevent bacterial adhesion. More recent research suggests cranberries may have no effect on preventing a UTI

• According to one expert, the active ingredient in cranberries — A-type proanthocyanidins — are effective against UTI-causing bacteria, but is only in highly concentrated cranberry capsules, not in cranberry juice.
• However, cranberry was not proven to prevent recurrent UTIs in several well-controlled studies, as seen in a 2012 meta-analysis of 24 trials published by the Cochrane group.
• While studies are not conclusive, there is no harm in drinking cranberry juice. However, if you develop symptoms, see your doctor. Some people find large quantities of cranberry juice upsetting to the stomach.

Increasing fluid intake like water, avoiding use of spermicides, and urinating after intercourse may be helpful in preventing UTIs, although limited data is available.

I What Is Bacterial Infection

To understand what bacterial infection is and how to treat bacterial infection, we should perceive the concept of bacteria. According to Dr. James Steckelberg, who is a consultant in the Division of Infectious Disease as well as a professor of medicine working at Mayo Medical School, bacteria are microscopic and single-cell organisms that are able to live almost everywhere, regardless climate and location.As you know, bacteria can live in the air, soil, and water. They also live on and inside many carrying parties such as plants, animals, and even human bodies. By that, they have certain impacts on the carrying parties, actually. In addition to the benefits that they can bring, for instance, they perform vital functions for organisms as well as in the environment, bacteria are still considered as a negative connotation. Bacterial infection is an example.

If you want to understand in depth, you can click at and read the specific study on bacteria.

Dont Miss: Can Hiv Cause Ear Infection

Also Check: Pill To Prevent Yeast Infection While On Antibiotics

To Recap The Steps To Treat Utis

• Its better to prevent UTIs instead of having to continuously treat UTIs. Look at your lifestyle and see if theres anything that youre doing that could be contributing to UTIs. This may require some detective work . When in doubt, work on strengthening your immune system and overall health you can do this by eating whole foods , taking probiotics, drinking plenty of water, correcting any nutrient deficiencies , limiting exposure to environmental toxins, getting sufficient sleep, lowering stress, being active, reducing food-induced inflammation among other things.
• If you have symptoms of a UTI, go to your doctor or take an at-home UTI test, then treat the UTI ASAP the earlier you treat it, the better. If you can, take another UTI test after treatment to help ensure that the infection is actually gone.
• If you want to treat your UTI without antibiotics, D-mannose shows a lot of promise for UTIs in the few studies that have been conducted so far .

This article was originally published on November 17, 2014, but was updated and re-published on March 10, 2019.

Amanda Austin is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified LEAP Therapist who approaches health and wellness from an integrative and functional perspective. She loves a good DIY, making a mess in the kitchen, and working up a sweat. Shes also obsessed with her incredibly spoiled fur-babies, which includes a rambunctious Boston Terrier, 2 cranky house cats, and 3 boisterous chickens.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Uti

If you have a UTI, you may have some or all of these symptoms:6,7

• Pain or burning when urinating
• An urge to urinate often, but not much comes out when you go
• Pressure in your lower abdomen
• Urine that smells bad or looks milky or cloudy
• Blood in the urine. This is more common in younger women. If you see blood in your urine, tell a doctor or nurse right away.
• Feeling tired, shaky, confused, or weak. This is more common in older women.
• Having a fever, which may mean the infection has reached your kidneys

Recommended Reading: What Kind Of Antibiotics For Kidney Infection

Just How Can I Get Cost

You May Like: Antibiotics For Dog Yeast Infection

Increase Vitamin C Intake

Some evidence shows that increasing your intake of vitamin C could protect against urinary tract infections.

Vitamin C is thought to work by increasing the acidity of the urine, thereby killing off the bacteria that cause infection .

An older 2007 study of UTIs in pregnant women looked at the effects of taking 100 mg of vitamin C every day .

The study found that vitamin C had a protective effect, cutting the risk of UTIs by more than half in those taking vitamin C, compared with the control group .

Fruits and vegetables are especially high in vitamin C and are a good way to increase your intake.

Red peppers, oranges, grapefruit, and kiwifruit all contain the full recommended amount of vitamin C in just one serving .

Despite these studies, there is still more research needed to prove the effectiveness of vitamin C for reducing UTIs. .

SUMMARY

Increasing vitamin C intake may decrease the risk of UTIs by making the urine more acidic, thus killing off infection-causing bacteria.

Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice is one of the most well-known natural remedies for urinary tract infections.

Cranberries work by preventing bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract, thus preventing infection .

In a 2016 study, women with recent histories of UTIs drank an 8-ounce serving of cranberry juice every day for 24 weeks. Those who drank cranberry juice had fewer UTI episodes than the control group .

Donât Miss: Can Antibiotics Mask Std Test

Don’t Miss: Ulcerative Colitis And Antibiotics To Avoid

Consider Switching Birth Control Methods If You Have Repeat Bladder Infections

If you have trouble with repeat bladder infections, talk with a health care professional about your birth control. Consider switching to a new form of birth control if you use diaphragms, unlubricated condoms, or spermicide, all of which can increase your chances of developing a bladder infection. Consider using lubricated condoms without spermicide or using a nonspermicidal lubricant.

How Can I Take Care Of Myself

• Follow your healthcare providers treatment. Take all of the antibiotic that your healthcare provider prescribes, even when you feel better. Do not take medicine left over from previous prescriptions.
• Drink more fluids, especially water, to help flush bacteria from your system.
• If you have a fever:
• Take aspirin or acetaminophen to control the fever. Check with your healthcare provider before you give any medicine that contains aspirin or salicylates to a child or teen. This includes medicines like baby aspirin, some cold medicines, and Pepto Bismol. Children and teens who take aspirin are at risk for a serious illness called Reyes syndrome.
• Keep a daily record of your temperature.

Also Check: Does Medicare Cover Botox For Overactive Bladder

Don’t Miss: What Antibiotics Are Used For Cystic Fibrosis