For those who’re wholesome, your urinary tract is anatomically and functionally regular, and also you aren’t unusually weak to UTIs, your UTI is taken into account uncomplicated, or easy.
These infections are sometimes handled with a brief course of oral antibiotics.
Different UTIs, together with these in aged and pregnant sufferers, are thought-about sophisticated.
With an advanced UTI, chances are you’ll get intravenous (IV) antibiotics or an extended oral antibiotic course.
UTI signs sometimes subside after just a few doses of an antibiotic.
Nonetheless, it’s vital to all the time full all the course of antibiotics as directed by your healthcare supplier even in case you’re feeling higher. If the an infection isn’t fully cleared, your signs will seemingly return.
Antibiotic resistance can be a rising concern when treating UTIs.
Many easy UTIs could be handled with out the necessity for a urine take a look at, says Mahino Talib, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at NYU Langone Well being in New York Metropolis. However in case you’re experiencing recurrent UTIs (greater than two in six months or three in a single 12 months), she says it’s vital to get a urine tradition to be sure to’re receiving the right remedy.
Some girls are inclined to get yeast infections after taking antibiotics, provides Dr. Talib. For those who expertise yeast an infection signs, like vaginal itching or thick white discharge, inform your physician. They’ll prescribe a one-time remedy, like fluconazole (Diflucan), so that you can take while you’ve accomplished your antibiotics.
These are the most typical varieties of antibiotics used to deal with UTIs.
Nitrofurantoin
This oral broad-spectrum antibiotic works in opposition to many of the micro organism that trigger UTIs. Model names embody Macrodantin and Macrobid. In contrast to different antibiotics, nitrofurantoin has a low potential for antibiotic resistance.
Nitrofurantoin is a first-line remedy for uncomplicated UTIs, and is taken for 5 to seven days.
It could even be prescribed for some sophisticated UTIs, and as a preventive remedy for recurrent UTIs. Due to its potential fetal results, nitrofurantoin is simply used throughout being pregnant underneath sure circumstances.
Nitrofurantoin doesn’t normally trigger severe negative effects, however chances are you’ll expertise nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole
This can be a mixture of two antibiotics known as sulfonamides. It’s also called co-trimoxazole or TMP-SMX. Model names embody Bactrim and Septra.
TMP-SMX is one other first-line remedy for uncomplicated UTIs, and can be utilized preventively. It’s sometimes prescribed for 5 to seven days of remedy.
Due to potential results on a fetus, it’s normally solely prescribed in sure instances for pregnant girls.
TMP-SMX might trigger solar sensitivity. It could actually additionally trigger a severe pores and skin response and make you weak to an infection from Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) micro organism, which causes extreme diarrhea.
Fosfomycin
This one-dose UTI antibiotic remedy is a first-line remedy for uncomplicated UTIs and can be thought-about a protected alternative throughout being pregnant.
Fosfomycin doesn’t normally trigger severe negative effects, however chances are you’ll expertise nausea or diarrhea.
Penicillins
These antibiotics, within the beta-lactam class, typically aren’t used to deal with uncomplicated UTIs due to excessive charges of drug resistance, however there are exceptions. They could even be used as an IV remedy for classy UTIs. These medication have decrease scientific and bacterial treatment charges than first-line therapies.
Penicillins accessible to deal with UTIs embody:
- Pivmecillinam (Pivya) is accredited to deal with uncomplicated UTIs brought on by E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Proteus mirabilis micro organism. Pivmecillinam is taken for 3 to seven days.
- Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin ES) combines a penicillin antibiotic with a drug to stop resistance. It could be used to deal with an uncomplicated UTI if a urine tradition reveals it’s the simplest drug.
- Ampicillin-sulbactam (Unasyn) is a mix drug that could be given intravenously for an advanced UTI.
Penicillins are normally properly tolerated, though some individuals can have an allergic response and develop a rash.
Cephalosporins
These beta-lactam antibiotics are thought-about a second-line remedy for uncomplicated UTIs, normally taken for 5 to seven days. They could even be administered by IV or injection to deal with sophisticated UTIs, together with extreme infections which are immune to different antibiotics. They embody:
- cefdinir
- cefepime
- cefiderocol (Fetroja)
- cefpodoxime
- ceftazidime-avibactam (Avycaz)
- ceftolozane-tazobactam (Zerbaxa)
- ceftriaxone
- cephalexin (Keflex)
Cephalexin has been proven to be protected for pregnant girls and can be utilized as a preventive remedy for recurrent UTIs.
Cephalosporins don’t normally trigger severe negative effects, though chances are you’ll expertise nausea and vomiting. For those who’ve had an allergic response to a penicillin or different beta-lactam drug, you shouldn’t take them.
Fluoroquinolones
These antibiotics are thought-about extremely efficient for UTI remedy. Nonetheless, they will have severe negative effects. For uncomplicated UTIs, specialists say fluoroquinolones ought to solely be utilized in sufferers who don’t have any different remedy choices.
The next are really useful for treating sophisticated UTIs:
A number of the negative effects of fluoroquinolones could be severe. They embody harm to your tendons, muscle tissues, joints, and nerves. These medication may cause extraordinarily low blood sugar, which might result in coma, and psychological well being negative effects like agitation and bother concentrating.
Carbapenems
One other sort of beta-lactam antibiotic, carbapenems are sometimes thought-about a drug of final resort.
They’re used to deal with sophisticated UTIs brought on by drug-resistant micro organism, and could also be paired with a drug that fights the germ’s resistance mechanisms. These medication are administered by IV and embody:
Frequent negative effects embody nausea and vomiting. It’s uncommon, however these medication may cause seizures at excessive doses, particularly imipenem.
Sulopenem Etzadroxil–Probenecid
The mix drug (Orlynvah) acquired FDA approval in 2024 to deal with uncomplicated UTIs brought on by E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Proteus mirabilis in girls who can’t take different antibiotics.
It’s a beta-lactam antibiotic that’s taken for 5 days.
Potential negative effects embody nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and vaginal yeast infections. It could actually result in C. diff diarrhea, and shouldn’t be used in case you have gout or kidney stones.
Aminoglycosides
Antibiotics on this class, notably gentamicin, could also be mixed with different medication within the IV remedy of sophisticated UTIs. One other aminoglycoside, plazomicin (Zemdri) is designed for use in opposition to drug-resistant micro organism and is accredited for individuals who have few or no different choices.
These medication may cause listening to loss and kidney harm.
Gepotidacin
Gepotidacin (Blujepa) turned FDA-approved for UTI remedy in 2025. It’s accredited to be used in feminine adults and pediatric sufferers ages 12 and older.
Gepotidacin is an oral antibiotic with related effectiveness to different UTI therapies, however reveals a low potential for resistance. It’s a promising oral remedy possibility for drug-resistant infections.
It’s taken for 5 days and research recommend it’s properly tolerated. Gentle to average negative effects embody diarrhea and nausea.
