Understanding Complicated UTIs: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Burning during urination, frequent trips to the bathroom and cloudy, foul smelling urine characterizes the symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Most of these infections are easy to treat. Some complicated UTIs, however, require special care.

Definition

• Complicated UTIs refer to urinary tract infections that occur due to an abnormal urinary tract, catheter use or bacteria that are resistant to treatment. These infections tend to reoccur.

Antibiotics

• Pending a urine culture, broad-spectrum antibiotics like fluoroquinolone are often used to treat complicated UTIs. Once the lab identifies the bacteria strain, the physician may prescribe a narrow-spectrum antibiotic that will target the specific bacteria that has been identified.

Treatment

• Physicians treat complicated UTIs with a long course of antibiotics, ranging from seven to 14 days, depending on the symptoms. Sometimes intravenous treatment of antibiotics is necessary.

Post-treatment

• After completing the antibiotics, a physician may run another urine culture to test for the continued presence of bacteria to make sure that the infection is gone. If a bacteria is detected, the doctor may change the medication or extend the current prescription.

Considerations

• If you have recurring urinary tract infections, you may have a urinary tract abnormality such as congenital abnormalities, kidney dysfunction or renal cysts. Discuss any concerns you may have about urinary tract abnormalities with your physician.