Common Antibiotics for Urinary Tract Infection

Common Antibiotics for Urinary Tract Infection

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection that develops in any part of the urinary system, reports Medline Plus, a National Institutes of Health website. UTIs can affect the urethra, bladder, ureter or kidneys. This disease can be asymptomatic, but if symptoms due develop they include cloudy or bloody urine, low fever, back discomfort, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Treatment for this disease focuses on eradicating the bacterial organism causing the disease and relieving any severe symptoms. In order to cure the infection, various antibiotics are prescribed to the patient.

Beta-lactam Antibiotics

Beta-lactam antibiotics are drugs that share a common chemical composition and attack the bacteria in similar fashion. The two main types of beta-lactam medications are penicillins and cephalosporins, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Penicillins, such as amoxicillin, used to be the standard treatment for urinary tract infections. The drug was given for 10 days and this eliminated the infection. In recent years, the bacteria causing UTIs have become resistant to penicillins. In 25 percent of cases, penicillins are ineffective in curing the disease. Therefore, penicillins are now usually given with another drug such as Augmentin, in order to ensure total destruction of the bacteria.

Cephalosporins are used as an alternative option of medication for UTIs that are resistant to standard medication. Examples of cephalosporins include cephalexin, cefadroxil, cefuroxime and cefixime. Cephalosporins are classified as first-, second- or third-generation drugs. Each class fights off specific type of bacteria. In order to make sure the best cephalosporin is chosen, physicians will have to positively identify the type of bacteria causing a patient's urinary tract infection.

Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim

Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, or SMX-TMP, is a combination of two drugs that have proven effective in combating urinary tract infections, states MayoClinic.com. Normally, this medication is used for three days. A one-day treatment, however, can be used in order to avoid side effects. The conventional seven-day treatment for most antibiotics is not used for SMX-TMP because the seven-day treatment is not more effective than the three-day treatment and the seven-day treatment increases the risks of side effects.

Fluoroquinolones

In patients with UTIs who are resistant to SMX-TMP, fluoroquinolones can be used, reports Medline Plus. Ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and norfloxacin are all examples of commonly used fluoroquinolones. Though effective, these drugs can cause side effects and should never be used in pregnant women or children. Fluoroquinolones are never the first-line treatment for UTI, and should only be used in highly resistant infections.

Aminoglycosides

For the most serious UTI infections, aminoglycosides should be used, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These drugs are used to combat UTIs that have proven resistant to most other forms of medical treatment, have caused severe symptoms and that have been affecting the patient for a long period of time. The most commonly used aminoglycosides include gentamycin, amikacin and tobramycin. All of these drugs are given via an injection in order to ensure the medicine reaches the bloodstream undiluted. These drugs can have serious adverse effects such as impaired balance and coordination, damage to the kidneys and hearing loss.

source : livestrong.com