How are urinary tract infections treated?
Author: SCIRE Community Team | Reviewer: Bonnie Nybo | Published: 9 November 2018 | Updated: ~ Nov 9, 2018
Urinary tract infections are treated with antibiotic medications (antibiotics). Antibiotics help kill bacteria that cause infections. Antibiotics are usually taken orally, but in severe cases, may be delivered directly into the veins through an intravenous (IV) line.
There are a wide range of antibiotics that may be used to treat urinary tract infections after SCI. The most common antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections after SCI include:
- Fluorquinolones (such as Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin)
- Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)
- Amoxicillin
- Nitrofurantoin
- Ampicillin
Fluorquinolones are the most common choice because they are effective for treating a wide range of different types of bacteria. The selection of antibiotic is individualized and based on various factors such as type of bacteria causing the infection, recent antibiotic use, allergies, and risk of side effects.
Length of treatment can vary depending on the health status of the individual and the severity of the infection. For catheter-related UTIs, the typical duration is about 2 weeks. Signs and symptoms should start to improve within a few days after starting treatment, but that does not mean the antibiotics should be stopped. The full course of treatment should be finished to prevent recurrent infections.
While there are many studies to support the effectiveness of antibiotics for UTI treatment in people with SCI, there is a lack of research on what the optimal dose and length of treatment is.