Treatments For Utis And Kidney Infections
After making a diagnosis and determining that you have a urinary tract infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria causing your infection.
You should inform your doctor if you have any drug allergies before taking the medication. Call your doctor if you develop any side effects like rashes while taking your antibiotic.
Kidney infection
For kidney infections, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria causing the infections.
Your doctor may also give you pain relievers to manage the painful symptoms that can accompany a kidney infection. Depending on the severity of your infection and other factors in your personal medical history, you may need to be admitted to the hospital for further monitoring.
It’s also important that you drink a lot of fluids. This will help prevent dehydration and flush the bacteria out of your kidneys.
Can A Person Get Rid Of A Uti Without Antibiotics
In some cases, the body can resolve mild, uncomplicated UTIs without antibiotics. Research suggests that 2542% of uncomplicated UTIs resolve without medical treatment.
However, not receiving treatment for a UTI does have some risks. As such, older adults, pregnant people, and those with underlying conditions should not try to treat their UTIs without antibiotics.
My Uti Test Results Are Negative What Now
In an ideal situation, urinary tract infections would be easy to diagnose
Your urine would be tested, the test would show what pathogen is causing the infection, and susceptibility testing would indicate the perfect antibiotic or other treatment for that pathogen.
Your doctor would prescribe the right treatment, your UTI would clear up, and youd never have to think about it again. No more recurrent UTIs.
If youre reading this site, were guessing theres a good chance you have personal experience that is quite contrary to that ideal scenario.
I could actually see blood in my urine and it was excruciating to pee. The doctor said it was obvious I had a UTI. I couldnt believe it when my test results came back negative. All she could say was to come back in if it got worse. But then what? More tests that didnt show anything? |
So what happens when you get tested and the test results come back negative for a UTI?
Read Also: How To Treat Sibo With Antibiotics
What About Cranberry Juice For Uti
Its a long-held belief that consuming cranberry juice may help prevent and treat urinary tract infections. While its true that cranberries contain an active ingredient that can prevent adherence of bacteria to the urinary tract, there is still no evidence that cranberry products can treat a UTI.
One of the reasons: Products like cranberry juice or cranberry capsules are not explicitly formulated with the same amount of PACs that have shown potential in lab studies. Moreover, a 2019 report in the Journal of Urology noted that the availability of such products to the public is a severe limitation to the use of cranberries for UTI prophylaxis outside the research setting.
In all, theres actually very little high-quality research on the topic of prevention. For instance, a 2016 study in The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that among female nursing home residents, daily consumption of cranberry capsules resulted in no significant prevention of UTIs.
While consuming cranberry juice or supplements is not considered a first-line treatment of urinary tract infections, in most cases, it cant hurt. After all, drinking plenty of liquids does dilute your urine and help spur more frequent urination, which flushes bacteria from the urinary tract. The exception: Those who are taking blood-thinning medication, such as warfarin, should not consume cranberry juice. And those with diabetes should be mindful of the high-sugar content of fruit juices.
Monitoring Response To Therapy

Patients with a simple, uncomplicated UTI may not require rigorous monitoring. However, patients with complicated, relapsing, or recurrent infections should be monitored very closely. The following protocol is recommended to monitor response to therapy in patients with relapsing, recurrent, or refractory UTI.3
You May Like: Do Doctors Prescribe Antibiotics For Pneumonia
If Your Baby Gets Gbs Do Signs Of Infection Or Other Problems Show Up Right After Birth
Not always. It depends on the kind of GBS infection your baby has. There are two kinds of GBS infections:
Dont Miss: What Is The Best Antibiotic For Gum Infection
Diagnosis For Utis And Kidney Infections
Only a licensed healthcare professional can diagnose a urinary tract or kidney infection.
UTI diagnosis
To diagnose a urinary tract infection, your doctor will carefully review your medical history and do a physical examination to check for signs and symptoms.
They may also order tests like:
- Urinalysis: After taking your urine sample, your doctor will take it for lab testing to check for red blood cells and white blood cells, bacteria, and proteins. The presence of these may indicate you have a UTI.
- Urine culture: Urine cultures arent a regular part of a typical urinalysis, so your doctor may do one of these too. In a urine culture, a urine sample is taken to a lab where bacteria are grown from it, which can help doctors diagnose which bacteria are causing the UTI.
If UTIs become a recurring problem for you, your doctor may order additional tests to examine your bladder and urinary tract adn to check for blockages like tumors or kidney stones.
Kidney infection diagnosis
To diagnose a kidney infection your doctor will take your medical history, a physical exam, and some tests. They may ask if you have had health conditions that might make you prone to kidney infections.
Doing a physical exam will help your doctor detect any signs and symptoms of kidney infection.
If you are male, your doctor may perform a digital rectal examination . This checks if you have a swollen or enlarged prostate that may be blocking your bladder.
Some of the tests your doctor may do include:
Don’t Miss: Strongest Antibiotic For Strep Throat
Uti Antibiotics Resistance Rates
The breakdown of causes of urinary tract infections is not the same the world over.
While the same major groups of bacteria are generally identified everywhere, the percentage of infections caused by each, and the resistance of each to particular antibiotics is often different, depending on the region.
To put it simply, an antibiotic that is considered effective in one region may be considered less effective in another.
For this reason, each region has its own recommendations for first line antibiotics for urinary tract infections.
As we covered above, doctors use these recommendations to select which antibiotic to prescribe in the absence of conclusive test results. Recommendations change over time as bacterial resistance and prevalence changes. So medical practitioners need to keep up with the latest information.
Its a tough job keeping up, and in reality, it is thought that up to 50% of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States continue to be unnecessary or inappropriate. This figure applies not only to UTI antibiotics, but to all prescriptions for antibiotics.
Check out our expert video series to learn more about antibiotic resistance in chronic UTI.
What Types Of Health Care Professionals Treat Group B Strep Infections
Group B strep infections may be diagnosed and treated by different specialists, depending on the patients age and the potential complications encountered by the patient. In pregnant women, a GBS infection may be diagnosed and treated during labor by the patients obstetrician/gynecologist or by a family practitioner if they are delivering the baby. Babies who develop a GBS infection will be treated by a pediatrician or a neonatologist, and sometimes an infectious disease specialist may be involved. Nonpregnant adults who develop GBS infection will frequently be treated by their family physician, an internist, or an infectious disease specialist, and rarely by a general or orthopedic surgeon if a skin or bone infection requiring surgery is present.
Also Check: What To Do For Allergic Reaction To Antibiotic
What Are The Types Of Utis
UTIs are categorized into two types.
Complicated UTIs refer to infections associated with another condition. Often, that underlying condition makes the UTI worse because it may involve pre-existing kidney or bladder problems. If left untreated, complicated UTIs can lead to severe, permanent kidney damage.
The other category of UTIs is an uncomplicated UTI. These occur in individuals who are otherwise healthy and do not have abnormalities in their urinary tract. Uncomplicated UTIs tend to be recurring. They are categorized based on where the infection develops along the urinary tract. If it develops in the bladder, its called cystitis if it grows in the kidney, its called pyelonephritis .
Can I Treat A Uti Without Antibiotics
UTI treatment without antibiotics is NOT usually recommended. An early UTI, such as a bladder infection , can worsen over time, leading to a more severe kidney infection . However, a small study has suggested early, mild UTIs might clear up on their own. It’s always best to check with your doctor if you are having UTI symptoms.
Pregnant women should always see a doctor as soon as possible if they suspect they might have a UTI, as this can lead to a greater risk of delivering a low birth weight or premature infant.
Read Also: How To Treat Acne Without Antibiotics
What Are The Symptoms Of A Uti
One of the most common symptoms of a UTI is a frequent and urgent need to pee. You might feel like you need to pee all the time, even if you just went. Other UTI symptoms include:
-
pain or burning when you pee
-
bad-smelling or cloudy urine
-
blood or pus in your urine
-
soreness, pressure, or cramps in your lower belly, back, or sides
If the infection goes to your kidneys, your UTI symptoms may also include:
-
pain in your mid-back
-
feeling tired
What Is The Best Medication For A Uti

There is no one universal UTI medication thatâs best for everyone. Individual symptoms and responses to treatment vary. A doctor can determine the best medication for a UTI based on an individualâs symptoms, medical history, and response to treatments. Hereâs an overview of popular UTI medications that a doctor may prescribe.
Best medications for UTI | |
---|---|
100 mg capsule taken with food twice a day, 12 hours apart | Nausea, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or allergic reaction |
A doctor determines the best dosage based on medical conditions, response to treatment, age, and weight. Other possible side effects exist. This is not a complete list.
Recommended Reading: Buy Antibiotics For Bv Online
Other Tips That Can Help In Managing Uti In Males
- Drink at least 7-8 glasses of water every day. This helps in passing the toxins along with the urine.
- Drink cranberry juice without adding any extra sugar. Fresh cranberry juice removes the bacteria from the lining of the tract. These harmful bacteria get out of the body through urine.
- Have probiotic products such as yogurt. Probiotics promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut which kill the infection-causing bacteria.
- Increase your consumption of vitamin C. Especially, citrus fruits are a rich source of vitamin C. Apart from citrus fruits, oranges, kiwi, and red peppers contain high amounts of vitamin C .
- Maintain proper hygiene of your genital area and follow good bathroom habits.
- Make sure that you do not hold the urge to pass urine for long as it increases the chances of UTI.
- You can also take the help of natural supplements of garlic and cranberry.
These are some simple yet effective tips that will allow you to get rid of UTI faster. Dont forget to discuss them once with your doctor, so that you receive the right treatment.
Urethritis Due To Gonorrhea Or Chlamydia
You have urethritis. This is an inflammation in the urethra. The urethra is the tube between the bladder and the tip of the penis. Urine drains out of the body through the urethra. There are 2 main types of this condition:
-
Gonococcal urethritis . This is an infection caused by gonorrhea.
-
Nongonococcal urethritis . This is an infection that is often caused by chlamydia. Other infections can also be the cause.
Men are more likely to have symptoms, but may not. Symptoms can start within 1 week after exposure to an infection. But they can take a month or more to appear. Or they may not even occur. Some symptoms are:
-
Burning or pain when urinating
-
Irritation in the penis
-
Pus discharge from the penis
-
Pain and possible swelling in one or both testicles
Infections in the urethra are often caused by a sexually transmitted infection . The most common STIs are gonorrhea, chlamydia, or both.
Gonococcal urethritis is an infection of the urethra. Its caused by gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection . Gonorrhea can also be in other areas of the body. This can cause:
-
Rectal pain and discharge
-
Throat infection
-
Eye infections
Without treatment, the infection can get worse and spread to other parts of your body. The infection can cause rashes, arthritis, and infections in your joints, heart, and brain.
Don’t Miss: Best Antibiotic For Vaginal Infection
Treatment For Urinary Tract Infection
The best cystitistreatment is an antibiotic. Your dose and the type of antibiotic will depend on the severity of yourinfection as well as other factors, including:
- Side effects from past antibiotic treatments
Before your doctor prescribes you an antibiotic for UTI, he needs to determine the type of bacteriacausing the infection first. He will take a urine sample to confirm your infection. Samples of thebacteria will be grown in the lab for a couple of days. This culture will help your doctor determine thetype of bacteria thats causing the infection.
Best Antibiotic For Uti In Dogs
The best antibiotic for UTI in dogs is called Cephalexin. Its a common antibiotic used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections and is often the first choice when treating UTIs in dogs. Cephalexin works by stopping bacteria from reproducing, which helps to eliminate the infection. It does not kill the bacteria immediately it must be taken for several days to effectively treat UTIs in dogs. In addition to being an effective antibiotic for UTIs, Cephalexin can also be used for ear infections, skin infections, and other types of bacterial infections that affect your dogs urinary tract or other parts of his body.
The best antibiotics for UTI in dogs are those that can be used to treat the condition, not just the symptoms. This is why we recommend Cephalexin and Amoxicillin as your go-to options if youre looking for a way to treat a UTI in your dog. Cephalexin are a class of antibiotic that work against bacteria by interfering with their cell wall synthesis and causing them to die. Theyre commonly prescribed for treating UTIs, but they can also be used to treat other bacterial infections like pneumonia or salmonella.
Recommended Reading: Are There Any Over The Counter Antibiotics For Sinus Infections
Treatment Options For Utis Other Than Antibiotics
Previously, you may have taken UTI-treating antibiotics like ciprofloxacin or trimethoprim. But in the last few years, it has been seen that the efficacy of these two antibiotics is gradually decreasing.
Its important to mention here that antibiotics tend to function within two days of being it, but it is also critical to complete the course of the drug. This is because antibiotics take a longer time to kill and eliminate all the bacteria. So those people who tend to stop the continuation of antibiotics after they start feeling better are likely to suffer from reoccurring UTIs.
Pregnant women afflicted with UTIs should seek medical attention immediately. While UTIs are common health trouble for expecting mothers but can lead to further complications if not addressed correctly. In the worst scenario, it can surge the risk of the babys premature birth and low weight at birth.
You can easily understand that your UTI is not responding to the antibiotics you are taking when you persistently suffer from abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Sometimes, these symptoms occur with high temperatures up to 100.5 degrees.