Best antibiotic for UTI?

[ICsmiles]

Hi,
I am on the 2nd day of trimethorpin/sulfa (Bactrim) for a new UTI ... haven't had UTIs for several years so it was a surprise.
Anyway, I read that a study of the AMA showed the E coli bactera have become resistant to this antibiotic. Should I call my dr. and ask for Cipro or Keflex? I am in miserable pain, more so than my usual IC. It FEELs like the infection is still in force.
Thanks for any input and help... :)

[vm]

Did they do a culture and sensitivity? If so, it should have given them information as to what antibiotic would work best with the particular strain of bacteria you are infected by.

I hope you feel better soon. UTIs really stink on top of IC.................. :(

[ICNDonna]

Kim is right. It takes a culture and sensitivity test to be certain you are on the antibiotic that will be most effective for the specific bacteria causing your infection.

Donna

[Dixiefireball]

for the e coli bat. they normally use leviquin on me normally its my ace in the whole.

[ICsmiles]

THANK YOU everybody . . .
I'm feeling better ;)
I went back to Urgent Care doc this am and talked to him. They did another urinalysis and he decided to switch to Cipro since I still showed nitrates in my urine, which he said indicated bacteria. 2 days before I had blood and leukocytes in my urine as well, so I'm definitely improving. If you are interested in the article about Bactrim not being effective for UTIs, I will include the info here:

In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis learned the reason bladder infections are so tough to beat is that the E. coli can dodge antibiotics by invading the immune system cells that line the wall of the bladder.

"The bacteria have become smarter, and we're seeing more antibiotic resistance," says David Talan, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine and chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine and faculty of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. Talan is one of the authors of a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that showed that E. coli bacteria have become resistant to a standard antibiotic, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) for treating UTIs.

The study, which was funded by Bayer, involved 255 women with an average age 25 and had acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis, a serious type of kidney infection. Researchers found nearly 18 percent of strains of E. coli were resistant to TMP/SMX, yet none were resistant to ciprofloxacin, which falls into a new class of drugs called quinolones. Bayer manufactures ciprofloxacin (Cipro®).

Here is the link:
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/dc/caz/kidn/utri/alert04192000.jsp

[vm]

Glad you are feeling better!!!!!!!! :)

[lm2]

I read that study too, but my e.coli bacteria is always resistant to Cipro and the other quinolones. I guess it's a safe guess for most people, but not everyone...

[bunny]

Does anyone else have recurrent bladder infections?
I take antibiotic and it works. I get off the antibiotic and it comes back with yeast. confused.

Nancy :hmm:

[lm2]

Yeah, I do. Sometimes it's just in lower amounts, but it's been a problem for me for a year and a half (see my other posts). I wish I had an answer. It's a viscious cycle, I think partly because the antibiotics kill the good bacteria as well which makes you even more prone to infection (and yeast). I went to 2 infectious disease doctors last year but they both suggested something different. My doctor says they've found that Cystistat instillation reduce bacterial levels in people with catheters and such, but then again, having an instillation itself poses a risk. Sorry I'm not much help, but you're not the only one.

[kelly McC]

I get infections often and yeast along will it. I ask for a yeast pill whenever I am put on a antibiotic .
Kelly

[Franny]

[Have you tried douching with vinegar and water to prevent yeast infection recurrences? I was just talkiing to my sister who told me nothing ever worked to get rid of her yeast until she used the vinegar and water old time remedy...simple but true.

[Franny]

I used to get bladder infections frequently until my gynocologist told me I had to urinate within 15 min. after intercourse. Since then it hasn't been a problem.

[Kimberly32]

Wow I totally understand what you gals are talking about this has been a very big battle for me in the last year or so. My dr. has me on Bactrim for "antibiotic therapy." I take one before or after any sexual contact with hubbie. I think it helps but I still battle with the UTI infections at least once a month the dr. has tried me on other antibiotics too for therapy.
When I do get a infection he will put me on Leviquin 500mg for 5 days and that will most of the time kill it. I think it is very very important also to remember to ALWAYS go straight to the bathroom and urinate after sex! That is a biggie I even at times get right into the shower to clean myself off. Us Ic'ers need all the help we can get in order to keep control of these infections. God knows we live in pain already let alone battling UTI's which make your pain 100% worse.
Good Luck To You All

Kim :grouphug: