Do You Need Antibiotics For Kidney Infection

When To Seek Immediate Medical Attention

UTIs are uncomfortable, but theyre not an immediate medical emergency. Some people make the mistake of assuming the same is true with a kidney infection.

Kidney infections are serious conditions and they do require medical attention. Untreated, a kidney infection can quickly cause long-term kidney damage or kidney scarring. These infections can also cause , which can lead to shock.

Because of this, a kidney infection can be fatal if it progresses. Its important to have it treated immediately by a healthcare professional.

Note that kidney stones, if untreated, can also cause a blockage that can lead to pyelonephritis and sepsis. This may require a procedure done with intravenous antibiotics by a urologist.

Recommended Reading: Vaginal Yeast Infection That Wont Go Away

Eating Diet & Nutrition

Experts dont think eating, diet, and nutrition play a role in preventing or treating bladder infections. If you have any type of UTI, talk with a health care professional about how much to drink each day to help prevent or relieve your infection.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and other components of the National Institutes of Health conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions.

How Can I Help My Child

At home, these things can help prevent recurrent UTIs in kids:

Drinking Fluids Encourage kids to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water and other fluids each day. Cranberry juice and cranberry extract are often suggested because they may prevent E. coli from attaching to the walls of the bladder. Always ask your doctor, though, if your child should drink cranberry juice or cranberry extract, because they can interfere with some medicines.

Good Bathroom Habits Peeing often and preventing constipation can help to prevent recurrent infections.

Multivitamins Vitamin C acidifies pee, making the environment less friendly to bacteria. Vitamins designed for kids are generally safe, but always ask your doctor before increasing the dose beyond the currently recommended daily allowance.

No Bubble Baths Kids should avoid bubble baths and perfumed soaps because they can irritate the urethra.

Frequent Diaper Changes Kids in diapers should be changed often. This prevents stool from having prolonged contact with the genital area, which can lead to bacteria moving up the urethra and into the bladder.

Proper Wiping Girls should wipe from front to back after using the toilet to reduce exposure of the urethra to UTI-causing bacteria in stool.

Cotton Underwear Breathable cotton underwear is less likely to encourage bacterial growth near the urethra than nylon or other fabrics.

su91629

0 likes, 15 replies

Recommended Reading: When Is A Kidney Infection An Emergency

Urinary Infections In Children

A urinary infection in a child needs to be investigated as it may indicate a more serious condition.

The most common urinary system condition is urinary reflux. With this condition, the bladder valve isnt working properly and allows urine to flow back to the kidneys, increasing the risk of a kidney infection.

Urinary reflux and the associated infections can scar or permanently damage the kidney, and can also lead to:

• high blood pressure
• toxaemia in pregnancy
• kidney failure.

Urinary reflux tends to run in families, so its important to screen children as early as possible if a close relative is known to have the problem.

You May Like: Can A Ct Scan Miss Bladder Cancer

How Can I Prevent A Kidney Infection

You may be able to lower your chance of getting a kidney infection by:

• Drinking plenty of water
• Urinating as soon as you feel the need to
• Urinating after having sex
• Avoiding the use of deodorant sprays or douches in your genital area
• Getting treatment for constipation . Constipation is not a symptom of kidney infection but it can increase your chance of having bacteria in your urinary tract because it can make it difficult to empty your bladder fully.

Don’t Miss: Can Kidney Stones Be Detected In Urine

Take An Epsom Salt Bath

Both Epsom salts and warm water can ease pain. This can help make the uncomfortable side effects of the kidney infection a little more tolerable while you wait for the antibiotics to take effect.

Since abdominal pain is sometimes a symptom of antibiotics, as well as kidney infections, Epsom salts could also help even after symptoms from the kidney infection are resolved.

What Are Potential Kidney Infection Complications

Most people recover 100% from a kidney infectionbut there is the possibility of serious complications if one is left untreated. As we mentioned, a kidney infection that doesnt get treated can cause a condition known as sepsis. This happens when your body responds overzealously to an infection, which can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure and cause the body to go into shock, according to the NIDDK. This can make your organs fail, which, in the most extreme cases, can lead to death.

Even in non-life-threatening cases, if you have a kidney infection that becomes chronic, you can wind up with permanent kidney damage that can cause problems like kidney disease or high blood pressure. In pregnant people, untreated kidney infections can also increase the risk of having a baby with low birth weight, notes the Mayo Clinic.

All of that sounds scary, but heres whats most important to know: A kidney infection is treatable. Its all about how soon you seek treatment once you start experiencing kidney infection symptoms.

You May Like: What Should My Kidney Function Be

Do I Need Medical Care For A Yeast Infection Or A Uti

With knowledge about symptoms and causes, you may be able to make a diagnosis at home.

But in some cases, you may want to visit a healthcare provider for help. There is evidence that women often have difficulty in correctly diagnosing themselves and therefore may use the wrong treatment. So, if you are unsure which infection you have, or you want guidance on the best treatment options for you, your provider can help.

Read Also: How To Stop A Bacterial Infection Without Antibiotics

Is It Safe To Treat Utis Without Antibiotics

Antibiotics are effective treatments for UTIs. Sometimes, the body can resolve minor, uncomplicated UTIs on its own, without antibiotics.

Complicated UTIs require medical treatment. These are some factors that can make the infection complicated:

• changes in the urinary tract or organs, such as a swollen prostate or reduced flow of urine

You May Like: Is Caffeine Bad For Your Kidneys

When Should You Call Your Doctor

if painful urination or other symptoms of a urinary tract infection occur with:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Fever and chills.
• Pain in the flank, which is felt just below the rib cage and above the waist on one or both sides of the back, or lower belly pain.

if you are pregnant and have symptoms of a UTI .

• Have had UTI symptoms previously and have those symptoms again.
• Have minor symptoms of a UTI that do not clear up in 1 to 2 days, such as pain or burning when you urinate, foul-smelling urine, or the urge to urinate frequently while passing only small amounts of urine.
• Notice blood or pus in your urine.
• Have symptoms of a UTI and you have diabetes.
• Have been taking antibiotics for a UTI but your symptoms do not improve after 48 hours or they come back after improving temporarily.

What About Antibiotic Resistance

Resistance rates for antibiotics are always variable based on local patterns in the community and specific risk factors for patients, such as recent antibiotic use, hospital stay or travel. If you have taken an antibiotic in the last 3 months or traveled internationally, be sure to tell your doctor.

High rates of antibiotic resistance are being seen with both ampicillin and amoxicillin for cystitis , although amoxicillin/clavulanate may still be an option. Other oral treatments with reported increasing rates of resistance include sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim and the fluoroquinolones. Resistance rates for the oral cephalosporins and amoxicillin/clavulanate are still usually less than 10 percent.

Always finish taking your entire course of antibiotic unless your doctor tells you to stop. Keep taking your antibiotic even if you feel better and you think you dont need your antibiotic anymore.

If you stop your treatment early, your infection may return quickly and you can develop resistance to the antibiotic you were using previously. Your antibiotic may not work as well the next time you use it.

Dont Miss: Can You Get Antibiotics At Walgreens

You May Like: Is Lisinopril Hard On The Kidneys

Which Antibiotics Are Used For The Treatment Of Complicated Acute Pyelonephritis

With complicated acute pyelonephritis, treat patients parenterally until defervescence and improvement in the clinical condition warrants changing to oral antibiotics. Complete the course of therapy with an oral agent selected on the basis of culture results. Acceptable regimens include the following:

• Ampicillin and an aminoglycoside
• Ceftazidime-avibactam
• Meropenem-vaborbactam

If the patient is allergic to penicillin, vancomycin should be substituted. Vancomycin or linezolid are options if enterococci are a consideration.

Meropenem-vaborbactam is a combination of the carbapenem antibiotic meropenem with the beta-lactamase inhibitor vaborbactam. Specifically, vaborbactam inhibits bacterial production of the Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase enzyme, which confers resistance to carbapenems. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved meropenem-vaborbactam for adults aged 18 years and older with pyelonephritis and other complicated urinary tract infections caused by designated susceptible Enterobacteriaceae: Escherichia coli, K pneumoniae, and Enterobacter cloacae species complex.

What Is The Best Treatment For A Kidney Infection

Also know, which antibiotic is best for kidney infection?

Kidney infections are treated using antibiotics to destroy the bacteria. The type of antibiotic used varies, depending on the type of bacteria that is causing the infection. Commonly-prescribed antibiotics include Amoxil, Cipro, Levaquin, and Bactrim. Patients generally take antibiotics for one to two weeks.

What antibiotics are used to treat kidney infection?

The course of antibiotics is for 7-14 days, depending on which one is used. Commonly used antibiotics for kidney infections include ciprofloxacin or co-amoxiclav. Trimethoprim is also sometimes used. Painkillers such as paracetamol can ease pain and reduce a high temperature .

Is ciprofloxacin used to treat kidney infection?

This medication is used to treat kidney or bladder infections. Ciprofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called quinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections.

You May Like: Acv For Urinary Tract Infection

Don’t Miss: How Old Is Too Old For Kidney Transplant

What Are The Causes Of Kidney Infections

Normally, bacteria are flushed out by the flow of urine. However, several problems can increase the risk of a kidney infection. These problems can include:

• Structural abnormalities blocking urine flow.
• An enlarged prostate gland compressing the urethra.
• Backflow of urine from the bladder to the kidneys.
• If your immune system is affected .
• Pregnancy, during which time the enlarging uterus can squeeze the ureters and reduce the flow of urine, allowing the bacteria to migrate to the kidneys.

Dont Miss: Is Aleve Hard On Kidneys

Do You Get Hospitalized For A Kidney Infection

The majority of kidney infections can be treated with a course of antibiotics at home. However, your doctor may admit you to the hospital for more serious kidney infections, so you can receive intravenous antibiotics. People with a weakened immune system or some other underlying medical problem may also require hospitalization for a kidney infection.

Also Check: Are Protein Bars Bad For Kidneys

Treatment Length For All Utis

No matter what kind of bacterial infection you have and where its located, the best antibiotic treatment for UTI is generally the shortest one. This is to lower your odds of developing antibiotic resistance and to decrease your risk of a yeast infection or infectious diarrhea.

Still, its imperative that you take all the antibiotics prescribed, even after symptoms subside. Most UTIs resolve within three to 10 days. Stopping your antibiotics early, before the drugs eliminate all bacteria, can create a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, too.

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.

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

Also Check: Can You Pass A Kidney Stone And Not Know It

Main Symptoms Of Kidney Infection

A urinary tract infection usually begins in the bladder and the symptoms and signs of a bladder infection might stay the same after the infection spreads to the kidneys. These indications consist of: cloudy and dark urine that may appear red or pink from blood, unpleasant or burning urination, foul smelling urine, pain in the abdominal area, a heat that remains under 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

When the infection has spread to the kidneys the following additional signs can be expected: a heat that surpasses 101 degrees Fahrenheit, nausea, throwing up, and chills and shaking.

Usually, kidney infection symptoms will feel even worse during urination. A significant change to your typical pattern of urination accompanied with common symptoms and signs of kidney infection are good indications to call your doctor.

What Happens When A Uti Goes Untreated

Thanks to early diagnosis and proper treatment, the vast majority of lower urinary tract infections result in no complications. However, if left untreated, a UTI can have serious ramifications notes the Mayo Clinic, including:

• Premature birth and low birth weight
• Kidney damage, which can occur is an untreated UTI spreads from the bladder to the kidneys.

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.

Also Check: What Does Kidney Stone Pain Feel Like

Drink Plenty Of Liquids

Drinking plenty of liquids, particularly water, will help to wash bacteria from your bladder and urinary tract.

Drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry extracts may also help prevent urinary tract infections . However, you should avoid cranberry juice or extracts if youre taking warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots. Cranberry juice can make the effects of warfarin more potent, so theres a risk of excessive bleeding.

Read Also: What Causes A Sinus Infection Contagious

Home Remedies For A Kidney Infection

You cant DIY a kidney infection away. But home remedies might help stave off some symptoms. Heres the best of the bunch:

• Take OTC pain relievers. These cant cure a kidney infection, but they might relieve discomfort in the short term. Options like acetaminophen can also help bring a fever down.
• Ditch the caffeine and booze. Drinking alcohol or caffeine can make your kidneys work overtime. This extra strain might make it harder for your infection to clear.
• Take a probiotic.Probioticshelp your good bacteria bounce back after a round of antibiotics. Some research also suggests they can help folks with kidney issues.
• Stay uber-hydrated. Youll want to drink lots and lots of fluids to flush out your bladder and urethra as frequently as possible.
• Try apple cider vinegar . Theres no scientific evidence that ACV is the MVP of kidney infections. But some folks like to drink it as a tonic for its antimicrobial properties.

You May Like: How Much Is A Kidney Worth In Usa

Antibacterial Activity And Resistance

Only 11 of the trials reported baseline resistance rates to nitrofurantoin and comparators , and only one underpowered study assessed emergence of resistance as a formal outcome. Baseline resistance was low even in earlier eras of widespread use. Likely because of nitrofurantoins multiple modes of action, acquisition or emergence of resistance is relatively infrequent. When it does occur, resistance is thought to be due to loss of intracellular nitroreductase activity via sequential mutations in the DNA regions encoding these enzymes., Indeed, despite several decades of use, much of it prolonged and at lower doses in the context of UTI prophylaxis, nitrofurantoin has generally retained its broad-spectrum activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including most enterococci, but with the important exception of some Klebsiella strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the Proteae , which carry intrinsic resistance.

Recommended Reading: What Does A Lesion On The Kidney Mean

How Is A Kidney Infection Diagnosis Confirmed

If youre feeling signs of a kidney infection, you should seek medical attention as soon as you can, if possible. A kidney infection can be serious because it can sometimes lead to a dangerous, life-threatening health condition called .

Even if your infection doesnt progress to that, a kidney infection can become chronic, i.e., long-lasting, and can cause permanent damage to your kidneys. Dr. Kaufman recommends heading to your local urgent care facility or emergency room if you have signs of a kidney infection.

For your doctor, diagnosing a kidney infection is pretty straightforward. They should start with lab tests like a urinalysis, which just involves peeing in a cup on your end. After you hand over your sample, the urine is examined under a microscope to check for the presence of bacteria and infection-fighting white blood cells. To see what kind of bacteria youre dealing with, the urine should also be cultured over the course of one to three days, according to the NIDDK. In some cases, your doc might also order imaging tests like a CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound to take a closer look at your kidneys.

Don’t Miss: Which Is Not A Function Of The Kidneys