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My husband has had three Urinary track infections in a row. He has taken two kinds of antibiotics and none of them have worked. Everytime he comes off the antibiotic the infection returns in a couple days. He had a CT scan done of his abdomen after the second one and everything was fine. The Uroligist said the antibiotics he was taking (Ciprofloxacin 750's for 20days) would clear it up. That was during the second infection. He is down to his last pill today and has already told me that he can tell it did not work and expects it to be back in full in a couple days. This will be the fourth infection now in a row. Any ideas what may be going on? He has not had any blood work done through all of this. Would some blood work maybe help indicate something? We are desperate for some answers.
Tell him to have the urologist send him to an infectious disease specialist. He may need a course of IV antibiotics for a while - it sounds as though he's been colonized with something, most likely e coli.
I would suggest seeing an infectious diseases specialist. Firstly, if there is ANY hint of prostatic infection, that would need SIX WEEKS of antibiotics, as the prostate is a privileged space. Second, whoever is treating him needs to get a urine (CLEAN CATCH) at least a WEEK after stopping antibiotics, and send it for culture and susceptibility testing.
Urologists are GREAT at what they are good at (surgery) but they're NOT wonderful treating infections.
Hey, I just realized we gave the same advice Good for you!
my friend used to get them and had one kidney removed. her doctor had her drinking cranberry juice daily after that and then later told her to take vitamin c instead, maybe 1000 mg a day. it worked for her. i knew a friend that used to cure hers with baking soda in water. yuck! but it worked. first you need to get rid of it. personally, on top of antibotics i would take 1000 mg of vitamin c every hour. then if it causes symtoms, cut back.
His prostate was checked and it appeared to be fine. He had a urine culture a few days after coming off of the third antibiotic and it showed bacteria elements.
was this last antibiotic he took the one that the culture showed would work the best? Did they send him to the lab to get the culture done, if so you can request a copy of his test and on it, it should show what they found and what will be treat it, in order of the most effective? I hate to say this since this particular antibiotic is pretty strong but have they tried him on Levaquin? Also is it possible he is having bladder spasms that make him think he still has an infection, if so he can be given something for that.
was this last antibiotic he took the one that the culture showed would work the best? Did they send him to the lab to get the culture done, if so you can request a copy of his test and on it, it should show what they found and what will be treat it, in order of the most effective? I hate to say this since this particular antibiotic is pretty strong but have they tried him on Levaquin? Also is it possible he is having bladder spasms that make him think he still has an infection, if so he can be given something for that.
Levofloxacin (Levaquin®) is indicated ONLY if an organism is susceptible to it. Antibiotics are not chosen because they're 'strong,' which is really a meaningless adjective when it comes to antibiotics. Antibacterial agents are chosen because the IDENTIFIED organism is susceptible to those drugs.
I second the suggestion to start drinking cranberry juice every day, along with plenty of water. There is a substance in cranberry juice that keeps bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract and the water will help to keep them flushed out.
Not saying that cranberry juice is a substitute for any of the other suggestions given......just a good adjunct to them.
Cranberry juice can be very acidic for someone with bladder irritation. I have interstitial cystitis which is a more chronic condition where I have blood in my urine almost all the time. No bacteria though. Instead of cranberry juice, I take d-mannose powder; this is the element in cranberry that rids the bladder of e.coli without irritating like a juice, often times with added sugar, will. I also take aloe vera caplets daily. You need to avoid having intercourse with him until his symptoms clear; people can pass things back and forth. Is he circumcised? If not, he could be harboring the bacteria and reinfecting himself. I second some of the above posts about seeking a second opinion. I can certainly relate to the pain and discomfort he must be feeling.
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