Can Clindamycin treat UTI? 

Can Clindamycin treat UTI? 

Clindamycin may help your UTI, but it is not generally considered strong enough to completely cure urinary tract infections. Clindamycin is considered more active against infections of the skin, ear, lungs, blood, and the female reproductive system, but it is not known for treating UTIs. 

If you think you have a UTI, talk to your healthcare provider. Urine tract infections should not be neglected and must be diagnosed properly. 

What medications treat UTI? 

There are a number of antibiotics which are used to treat complicated and uncomplicated UTIs. Some of the common ones include (1):

  • Cephalosporins, like Ceftriaxone, Cephalexin, etc. 
  • Fluoroquinolones, like Ciprofloxacin 
  • Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole 
  • Nitrofurantoin 
  • Fosfomycin 

The antibiotic of choice for you not only depends on the basic facts but also on your overall health status. Let’s say you’re allergic to Cephalosporins, your doctor won’t prescribe you one no matter how effectively the med can treat UTI. 

It’s just not an option for you. That’s when your doctor will prescribe you the next best thing to manage your symptoms effectively. This is why it’s never the right choice to start taking antibiotics on your own. 

Just talk to your doctor and get a proper prescription. There are other things that may also help your UTI, like drinking cranberry juice and lots of fluids in general (2). 

Probiotics can also be used for the management of UTIs (3). However, these add-ons will not likely be sufficient enough to kill the infection-causing bacteria since only an antibiotic can achieve that goal. 

Furthermore, OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also be used for the management of pain and inflammation associated with UTI. Some examples include Naproxen, Ibuprofen, etc. However, some NSAIDs are not commonly used for this purpose, such as Meloxicam, Indomethacin, etc.

So, make sure you talk to your doctor or pharmacist to make sure that you are taking the right painkiller to help manage flank pain associated with UTIs.

How to know you have a urinary tract infection?

UTIs are commonly associated with the following signs and symptoms:

  • Pain or burning sensation during urination
  • Frequent urge to urinate, even when little comes out
  • Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
  • Blood in the urine
  • Lower abdominal pain or pressure
  • Fever or chills
  • Nausea or vomiting

It is important to visit your health giver and get a proper diagnosis. If you have a UTI, it should never go untreated.  If a UTI spreads to the kidneys, it can cause a more serious infection known as pyelonephritis. 

This can lead to high fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and back pain. If left untreated, pyelonephritis can cause permanent kidney damage or sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition.

If bacteria from an untreated UTI enter the bloodstream, they can cause a potentially fatal condition that occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection – called Sepsis. 

Symptoms of sepsis include fever, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, confusion, and difficulty breathing. This is why seeking medical attention is crucial. 

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References

1.-

National Health Services. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) – NHS [Internet]. National Health Service (NHS). [Accessed 23 Jan 2023]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/.

2.-

Hisano M, Bruschini H, Nicodemo AC, Srougi M. Cranberries and lower urinary tract infection prevention. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2012;67(6):661-8. doi: 10.6061/clinics/2012(06)18. PMID: 22760907; PMCID: PMC3370320. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22760907/

3.-

Falagas ME, Betsi GI, Tokas T, Athanasiou S. Probiotics for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in women: a review of the evidence from microbiological and clinical studies. Drugs. 2006;66(9):1253-61. doi: 10.2165/00003495-200666090-00007. PMID: 16827601. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16827601/