Millions of people get affected by urinary tract infections every year in the world. It is one of the most common types of infection that affects the urinary system of the body. In women, it is the most commonly seen.

What is Urinary Tract Infection?

UTI can affect the urinary tract. It can happen in the kidney, ureters, bladder, or urethra. In most cases, the bladder and the urethra are the two places that get affected. When someone gets UTI, they always feel the urge to urinate, a burning sensation while urinating, and sometimes pain in the lower abdomen.

Common symptoms associated with UTI are:

• Burning feeling with urination.

• Frequent need to urinate.

• Discoloration of urine.

• Blood in the urine.

• Foul-smelling urine.

• Cramps and pain in the pelvic region.

Best Antibiotic Options To Treat UTI

For UTI antibiotics over the counter, solution is one of the fastest and best options. But the medicine depends on the severity of the condition and the area affected by the infection. A person with UTI in the bladder region will have different treatment methods and medicines than a person with UTI in the kidney. Thus the antibiotics will work differently for every individual patient.

This is why it is highly recommended to consult a doctor before getting any medicines for infection in the urinary tract.

Patients are thoroughly diagnosed and based on the test reports the doctor will recommend suitable antibiotics. In most normal UTI cases doctors prescribe UTI antibiotics over-the-counter options. If the condition persists even after the recommended medication without any improvement, the doctor will ask the patient to undergo some more tests.

A urinalysis is a common test done to check if the infection is there. The tests help the doctors to determine the type of medicine required for the treatment.

Some of the important UTI antibiotics recommended are:

• Nitrofurantoin

• Fosfomycin

• Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim

How To Choose The Right Antibiotics?

Choosing the right antibiotics depends upon the doctor. They will recommend the antibiotic for UTI based on your medical history, type of infection, and other necessary aspects. Although initially, doctors prescribe nitrofurantoin or fosfomycin, it may not be suitable for everyone. Some may respond better to amoxicillin than fosfomycin.

Who Needs Intravenous Antibiotics For UTI?

Not everyone can take oral antibiotics for certain reasons. If you are a lactating mother, pregnant, or have a high fever, the doctor may ask you to get admitted to the hospital. Such cases are given intravenous antibiotics. IV antibiotics are given to patients with complicated UTI cases. Once the patient starts to show positive results, the doctor may switch to oral medicines. The common intravenous antibiotics are ceftriaxone, gentamicin, and tobramycin.

FDA Approved Modern Antibiotics For UTI

Some latest antibiotics are showing promising results in the treatment of UTI. These are:

Vabomere- is a combination of two medicines- a carbapenem antibiotic and a beta-lactamase inhibitor. Since August 2017, vabomere has been in use for the treatment of UTI in adults, especially in complicated cases. This medicine is given intravenously after every 8 hours, the dosage depends on the patient’s condition and the severity of the infection.

Zemdri- This is used for complicated cases of UTI. It is infused intravenously and is given to those patients who have no other alternative treatments. It is administered once a day.

Important Note: One must not neglect any symptoms of UTI. If left untreated, UTI can affect the kidney and can cause serious issues. One of the best ways to treat UTIs is to drink plenty of water and other fluids throughout the day. Above all women must practice proper hygiene every time they urinate.

Antibiotics can safely and effectively treat UTI. But you must always consult a doctor before choosing the antibiotics.