Antibiotics are usually the first defense against a urine infection, although surgery may be necessary in severe cases. The urinary tract is comprised of the bladder, urethra, the ureters, muscular tubes attached to the kidneys, and the kidneys themselves. An infection can develop at any part of the urinary tract. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection, or UTI, include pelvic pain, frequent urination and a burning sensation while urinating. According to the University of Maryland, pre-menopausal women are at greatest risk of developing a UTI.
Medication
A physician will normally prescribe an antibiotic to treat a simple urinary tract infection. A person with a UTI should take all prescribed medication as directed and for the length of time prescribed. Drugs that are often used to treat UTIs include ampicillin, Cipro, amoxicillin, Septra and Levaquin. For a patient with frequent UTIs, a physician may choose to prescribe a continuous, low-dosage antibiotic.
Fruit Juice
There is some evidence that both cranberry and blueberry juice can be helpful in preventing urine infections. According to the Mayo Clinic, the fruit juices may have the greatest benefit for women with recurring infections. In the June 2007 issue of "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research," Dr. Ruth Jepson writes that cranberry juice and other cranberry products significantly reduced the recurrence rate of UTIs over a 12-month period. Like the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Jepson notes that the greatest benefit was to women with recurrent UTIs. Individuals currently taking warfarin should not drink cranberry juice as it may cause bleeding.
Surgery
Sometimes a UTI is caused by an obstruction such as an anatomical malformation or kidney stone. In men, an enlarged prostrate can cause a UTI. In women, a prolapsed uterus may be the source of infection. In these cases, antibiotics may prove ineffective at treating the infection. In these cases, treatment may require the surgical removal of the blockage or repairing the anatomical malformation.
References
- University of Maryland: UTI Risk Factors
- The Mayo Clinic: Urinary Tract Infection
- "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research"; A systematic Review of the Evidence for Cranberries and Blueberries in UTI Prevention; Ruth G. Jepson, Ph.D.; June 2007
