Bladder Infection Keeps Coming Back

Option #: Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance

Have you taken all prescribed antibiotics but your symptoms are only getting worse? It could be that your bacteria are resistant to this type of drug.

You might have heard about superbug bacteria that withstand all available antibiotics. Well, increasingly, bacterial resistance is a real-life problem that physicians facing more often than before.

Here are the main signs that could signal that your bacteria are resistant to the prescribed medication:

• You are feeling worse, while youve been taking antibiotics diligently for over 48 hours.
• You are experiencing fever or nausea .

Realistically, you should feel much better by the third day of an antibiotic treatment, the bacterial load should be lowered, and therefore symptoms should subside, says Dr. Lisa Hawes even if not all symptoms resolved, you definitely should not have cloudiness, odor, or blood in your urine 48 hours after starting antibiotics.

Antibiotic Prevention Is Another Option

This means taking a low dose of an antibiotic regularly. One dose each night will usually reduce the number of bouts of cystitis. A six-month course of antibiotics is usually given.

You may still have bouts of cystitis if you take antibiotics regularly but the episodes should be much less often. If a bout does occur, it is usually caused by a germ which is resistant to the antibiotic you are taking regularly. A urine sample is needed to check on which bacterium is causing any bout of cystitis. You may then need a temporary change to a different antibiotic.

There Are Some Home Remedies That Are Helpful To Reduce Uti Infection

Apple cider vinegar

Stir two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a tablespoon of honey, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and half a cup of water, and drink. Consume this beverage twice a day while the infection persists.

Drink more water

Consuming water regularly helps women prevent pain-causing conditions such as urinary tract inflammation. It is crucial to practice this habit. A University of Miami study found that drinking too much water helps eliminate bacteria from the bladder and prevents them from accumulating, thus preventing the disease from occurring. The prevention of urinary tract infections depends on preventing bacteria from accumulating.

Baking Soda

The alkaline in baking soda balances the acidity of urine. In a glass of water, stir a tablespoon of baking soda. Use this drink whenever possible.

Yogurt

Whenever you eat, make sure to take plain yogurt. Yogurt also protects against urinary tract inflammation in addition to overall health.

Vitamin C

In addition to lemons, malt, papayas, capsicums, and other sour fruits that contain vitamin C, they are also beneficial for treating urinary tract infections. If you have this inflammation, you should consume small amounts of sour fruit daily until the infection is gone.

Green tea

An extensive study suggests that green tea can reduce urinary tract inflammation. Additionally, recurrences are prevented. It is a good habit to drink two cups of green tea in the morning and evening if you are suffering from this disease.

Recommended Reading: Botox Injections For Bladder Control

Wearing The Wrong Underwear

You might pick knickers based on comfort and style, but you should also be thinking about how they impact the health of our intimate area. Dr Adib pointed out that “the underwear women wear can onset cystitis as bacteria thrives in warm and moist environments. Wearing tightly fitting underwear can trap moisture in the intimate areas and allow infections to take hold.

“Cotton knickers are best for your intimate health, as many synthetic fibres have harsh chemicals in that can be very irritating to the vulva,” she said. “The colouring of the dyes they use in knickers can also be very irritating. I would always recommend that women do not wear knickers at night. However, I would always advise wearing knickers in the day, as materials in tights and trousers can be very harsh on the intimate area.”

Check If It’s A Urinary Tract Infection

Symptoms of a UTI may include:

• pain or a burning sensation when peeing
• needing to pee more often than usual during the night
• pee that looks cloudy
• needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
• needing to pee more often than usual
• lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
• a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
• a very low temperature below 36C

Don’t Miss: What Herbs Are Good For Bladder Control

Recurrent Cystitis In Women

In this series

Some women have recurring bouts of cystitis, sometimes defined as two proven infections within six months, or three infections in a year.

In this article

Cystitis means inflammation of the bladder. It is usually caused by a urine infection. Some women have repeated bouts of cystitis. Doctors define a recurrent infection as either three proven separate infections in a year or as two in six months. In many cases there is no apparent reason for a woman to get frequent attacks of cystitis. There are a number of treatment options to consider. This might be treating each episode promptly with a short course of antibiotics, a regular low dose of antibiotics taken long-term, or taking a single dose of antibiotic after having sex . You can read more about cystitis in the separate leaflet called Cystitis in Women.

Why Utis Keep Coming Back

It is estimated that 50% of women who encounter a UTI go on to experience a recurrence of infection within a year3. Some individuals have multiple UTI episodes throughout their life, and a few suffer from chronic UTIs. Factors that may increase the chance of UTI recurrence include:

• Sexual intercourse
• Certain types of birth control, particularly diaphragms and spermicidal agents
• Inherent predisposition: some women have urinary tracts that are more prone to bacterial invasion
• Anatomical abnormalities or blockages in the urinary tract
• Immune suppression caused by diseases such as diabetes
• Post-menopausal changes in the vaginal lining and in the ability of the bladder to contract

Also Check: Overactive Bladder Medication Side Effects

What Are The Symptoms

You may have an infection if you have any of these symptoms:

• You feel pain or burning when you urinate.
• You feel like you have to urinate often, but not much urine comes out when you do.
• You have pain in your lower belly.
• Your urine is cloudy, looks pink or red, or smells bad.
• You have pain on one side of your back under your ribs. This is where your kidneys are.
• You have fever and chills.
• You have nausea and vomiting.

• You have a fever, nausea and vomiting, or pain in one side of your back under your ribs.
• You have diabetes, kidney problems, or a weak immune system.
• You are older than 65.
• You are pregnant.

Reasons Why Antibiotics Did Not Resolve Your Uti Symptoms

Hello! Please note that all links on this blog leading to Amazon are affiliate links. This allows us to maintain an independent opinion when reviewing brands while earning commission when you shop. Please support us and go on a shopping spree with Amazon 🙂

I took antibiotics for UTI but symptoms are still there, its a common complaint among chronic UTI sufferers but it could mean a lot of different things. I askedDr. Lisa Hawes a urologist at Chesapeake Urology to help to navigate different case scenarios and discuss what they could potentially mean. However, do not attempt to self-treat based on this information only.

This post should rather serve you as a guide for a conversation with your doctor. When you know what to mention during your doctor visit, you have higher chances to get better care.

Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Exercise For The Bladder

What Else Can You Do When Antibiotics Fail

When it comes to the best treatment for recurrent chronic UTIs there are two main camps.

Some physicians prefer a long-term antibiotic treatment protocol, frequently prescribing a variety of antibiotics over the course of several months .

Others advocate for the mindful use of antibiotics and focus on correcting underlying dysbiosis as the main reason for recurrent UTIs. In fact, we are still learning about the human microbiome and the effect bacteria have on our health and it seems less and less probable that antibiotics alone could solve chronic issues.

Moreover, antibiotics were developed when we thought that a healthy bladder is sterile which we now know is far from the truth.

What is the best approach to cure a chronic UTI? Here is a selection of posts that can help you to get up to speed:

How Biofilms Can Cause Your Uti Symptoms To Come And Go

Lets compare the science of biofilms with the symptoms a sufferer of a chronic urinary tract infection may experience, using E.coli as an example pathogen:

We should also note here that biofilms can be fungal as well as bacterial, and there may be more than one pathogen present in the bladder at any given time. In fact, biofilms can be complex and diverse communities of multiple pathogens.

For the sake of simplicity, and because bacterial infections of the urinary tract are much more common than fungal, well stick to bacteria for our examples. But keep in mind, what causes a chronic urinary tract infection in one person is very likely different from the next person.

Fascinated? A UK research team has put together a more in depth look at how biofilms and IBCs form for you to view.

You May Like: Bladder Cancer After Prostate Radiation

Chronic Urinary Tract Infection

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process.

What is a chronic urinary tract infection?

Chronic urinary tract infections are infections of the urinary tract that either dont respond to treatment or keep recurring. They may either continue to affect your urinary tract despite getting the right treatment, or they may recur after treatment.

Your urinary tract is the pathway that makes up your urinary system. It includes the following:

• Your kidneys filter your blood and generate body waste in the form of urine.
• Your ureters are tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
• Your bladder collects and stores urine.
• Your urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of your body.

A UTI can affect any part of your urinary system. When an infection only affects your bladder, its usually a minor illness that can be easily treated. However, if it spreads to your kidneys, you may suffer from serious health consequences, and may even need to be hospitalized.

Although UTIs can happen to anyone at any age, theyre more prevalent in women. In fact, the

Bladder Cancer Signs And Symptoms In Women

Blood in the urine

• Blood in the urine is the most common sign of bladder cancer and is also often the first sign noticed. This is because early bladder cancer frequently causes bleeding without pain or other symptoms.
• Depending on the amount of blood present, the urine may appear pink, red, or brownish in color. When blood is present at levels not visible to the naked eye it is referred to as microhematuria. Microhematuria is detected by laboratory urine tests.
• It is important to note that hematuria also occurs commonly in people who do not have bladder cancer. In one study, only about 10% of people with visible hematuria were diagnosed with bladder cancer.7

A change in urination habits and/or symptoms of irritation, such as:

• Increased frequency
• Pain or a burning sensation during urination
• Increased urgency
• Difficulty passing urine

Bladder cancer that has grown in size or spread to other areas of the body may cause a variety of symptoms including an inability to pass urine, lower back pain on one side of the body, pain in the pelvic region, appetite/weight loss, general weakness, swollen feet, or bone pain.

If you have noticed any of these symptoms and are concerned, visit your doctor and ask about testing options, including Cxbladder. Cxbladder is a non-invasive urine test that can quickly and accurately detect or rule out bladder cancer.Learn more about Cxbladder

Recommended Reading: Radiotherapy Success Rate For Bladder Cancer

Which Infections Are Worse

NIDDK . A kidney infection is usually caused by a bladder or urethra infection where the bacteria multiply and travel upward toward the kidneys.

Kidney infections can be extremely serious and painful, sometimes leading to hospitalization to receive intravenous antibiotics. If left untreated, kidney infections due to UTIs can cause infections in the bloodstream. This can be life-threatening.

What Causes A Kidney Infection

Most kidney infections develop from a bladder infection . Bacteria travel up the tube between the bladder and kidney to infect a kidney. These bacteria are usually those normally living in the bowel eg, E. coli. Most people with cystitis dont get a kidney infection.

Some kidney infections develop without a bladder infection. This is sometimes due to a problem in the kidney. For example, people are more prone to kidney infections if they have a kidney stone or an abnormality of the kidney.

It is usually only one kidney that develops an infection. A kidney infection can occur at any age. It is much more common in women. This is because women are more at risk of developing a bladder infection . In women, the urethra is closer to the anus, which makes it easier for bacteria to get from the bowel to the urethra. The urethra is also shorter in women than in men, so bacteria can reach the bladder more easily.

Kidney infections are also more common in children, in older people and during pregnancy. They are uncommon in men.

Also Check: How Does Bcg Work On Bladder Cancer

Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection In Pregnancy

UTI is the most frequent medical complication of pregnancy. The risk factors of preterm delivery, low infant birth weight and abortions are most commonly associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy. In pregnancy, factors that contribute to UTI risk are ureteric and renal pelvis dilation increased urinary pH decreased muscle tone of the ureters, and glycosuria, which promotes bacterial growth. Treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy reduces the risk of pyelonephritis. As RUTIs are common in pregnancy, they need prophylactic treatment if they occur. Screening for bacteriuria is recommended in all pregnant women at their first prenatal visit and then in the third trimester., They should subsequently be treated with antibiotics such as nitrofurantoin, sulfisoxazole or cephalexin.,, Antibiotic prophylaxis for RUTI in pregnant women is effective using continuous or post-coital regimens. The causative organisms of UTI in pregnancy are similar to those found in non-pregnant patients, with E. coli accounting for 8090% of infections., Urinary group B streptococcal infections in pregnant women need to be treated and followed by intrapartum prophylaxis.

Option #: Persistent Uti Symptoms After Treatment

Here is another option: they sent your urine sample to a lab and later told you that according to the test you have a UTI. However, antibiotics resolved some symptoms , but the urge to urinate or pain in the lower abdomen remained.

As you could imagine, there could be a scenario when not only you have a full-blown UTI, but also an inflamed bladder lining is causing additional symptoms, as discussed above.

In this case, you, most likely, will see a reduction in pain, and your urine will become clear. However, pain in the bladder area and slight irritation after urination might still linger.

Moreover, when patients mention they feel burning in the urethra rather than the bladder, its quite normal. In fact, the urethra has more nerve endings that could be easily irritated due to underlying inflammation.

Read Also: Lifestyle Changes For Overactive Bladder

What To Think About

These medicines are often prescribed in a less costly generic form rather than under a brand name. A pharmacist might also decide to give you a generic instead of a brand name medicine unless the prescription says “no generic.”

Take all of the antibiotics your doctor has prescribed. Most people begin to feel better soon after they begin the medicine. But if you stop taking the medicine as soon as you feel better, the infection may return. And not taking the full course of antibiotics encourages the development of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. This not only makes antibiotics less effective but also makes bacterial infections harder to treat.

If You Have Gone Through The Menopause Vaginal Oestrogen May Be An Option

If you have gone through the menopause and had your last natural period , your hormone levels will have dropped. As explained earlier, this leads to changes in the vagina and the urethra that can increase the chances of getting recurrent cystitis, as well as other problems like dryness and painful sex. You can read more about this in the separate leaflet called Vaginal Dryness .

Vaginal oestrogen has been shown to reduce the number of bouts of cystitis in postmenopausal women who get recurrent cystitis. However, it is not as effective as taking antibiotics regularly. It is usually taken as an estradiol tablet that you insert into your vagina at night twice a week or as a ring that releases estradiol continuously and stays in the vagina for three months at a time. It can help even in postmenopausal women who don’t have any of the other vaginal symptoms.

Don’t Miss: Can A Bladder Infection Cause Back Pain