Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are infections that can occur within any area of the urinary tract, including the bladder, kidney, ureters and urethra, reports Drugs.com. In rare cases, patients will experience multiple or recurrent urinary tract infections in a short amount of time. Recurrent urinary infections typically point to an underlying structural or chemical anomaly that predisposes the patient to UTIs. The treatment for recurrent UTIs focuses on eradicating the infection using specific antibiotics. Understanding which antibiotics are useful in treating recurrent UTIs help physicians choose the best possible medication for each patient.
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium and is considered as a penicillin antibiotic, states Drugs.com. The drug is used to treat many different infections caused by bacteria, including recurrent urinary tract infections. The amoxicillin attacks the bacteria by inhibiting the production of the bacterial cell wall. The clavulanate potassium is able to overcome the resistance most bacteria have to amoxicillin. By themselves, these two drugs are unable to eradicate bacteria causing UTI, but together they are able to effectively treat the disease. Side effects of this drug include bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and headache.
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole, or TMP-SMX, is an antibiotic that is commonly used to treat urinary tract infections, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This medication is typically given as either in a three-day course or as a one-day treatment regimen. The three-day course is more effective, but increases the patient's risk of developing side effects from the medication. This drug combination should only be used in infections that have proven sensitive to the drug.
Levofloxacin
Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that is commonly used to treat recurrent urinary tract infections, reports MayoClinic.com. Levofloxacin is a member of the fluroquinolone drug family. This drug is typically given for five to seven days in normal urinary tract infections and may be given longer for recurrent UTIs. Some infections should be treated for two weeks with levofloxacin. Pregnant women and children should not be given levofloxacin because they are more susceptible to the adverse effects of the drug.
Doxycycline
Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that can be used to treat different bacterial infections, like recurrent urinary tract infections, according to Drugs.com. The drug works by slowing the growth of bacteria within the body. This allows the body's immune system to destroy the infection. Side effects of doxycycline include swelling of the tongue, difficulty swallowing, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting or upset stomach.
