If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you know how miserable they can be. The constant urge to urinate, the burning sensation, the pain, and if you’ve ever had more than one UTI, you know that they have a tendency to come back. In fact, UTIs are one of the most common bacterial infections, and women are particularly susceptible.
There are a number of reasons why UTIs tend to recur, but one of the most common is what’s known as the “antibiotic vicious cycle.” Here’s how it works:
A woman gets a UTI and is prescribed antibiotics to treat the infection. The antibiotics kill the harmful bacteria causing the UTI, but they also kill the good bacteria that live in the woman’s urinary tract. This good bacteria is important because it helps to keep the bad bacteria in check.
Without this good bacteria, the bad bacteria are able to multiply and cause another UTI, this can also lead to an overgrowth of yeast. The woman is then prescribed another round of antibiotics to treat the new infection. And the cycle continues.
The best way to break this cycle is to avoid antibiotics altogether. It turns out that this cycle is not only frustrating, but it may also be dangerous.
A new study has found that taking antibiotics for a UTI can increase your risk of developing a more severe infection that is resistant to antibiotics1.
The study found that the risk of developing a resistant infection was highest among those who took the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for UTIs, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. This antibiotic is often used as a first-line treatment for UTIs, and the study found that it was associated with treatment with increased odds of infection relapse.
The findings of this study are concerning, but they are not surprising. We have known for some time that the overuse of antibiotics can lead to the development of resistant bacteria. And while UTIs are often seen as a minor inconvenience, they can actually be quite serious, especially if they progress to a kidney infection.
While the findings of this study are concerning, it's important to remember that UTIs are still treatable. But it's also important to be aware of the potential risks of taking antibiotics and to use them only when necessary, under medical supervision.
References
1. DOI: 10.1017/S0950268818003369
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