Does Azithromycin treat kidney infections?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does Azithromycin treat kidney infections?
Azithromycin may help your kidney infection a little, but it is not generally prescribed to treat one. There are plenty of other antibiotics which actively control a kidney infection, as compared to Azithromycin.
If you’re exhibiting signs of a kidney infection, talk to your healthcare provider. Kidney infections can permanently damage your kidneys if not treated properly.
Instead of taking medications on your own, reach out to your doctor. It is highly unlikely for your doctor to prescribe Azithromycin for a kidney infection, as better antibiotics exist (1).
What medications treat kidney infections?
There are a number of antibiotics that can be taken for the management and treatment of kidney infections, depending on the type of bacteria causing them. Some commonly prescribed antibiotics include (2):
| Medications | Recommended doses* | Additional information |
| Amoxicillin | 500mg orally every 8 hours for 7-10 days | Not recommended for patients with allergies to Penicillin or those who have received Amoxicillin within the past month |
| Ciprofloxacin | 500mg orally every 12 hours or 400mg IV every 12 hours for 7-14 days | Should not be used in patients with a history of myasthenia gravis or those under 18 years of age |
| Levofloxacin | 750mg orally or 500mg IV once daily for 5-10 days | Should not be used in patients with a history of myasthenia gravis or those under 18 years of age |
| Cephalexin | 500mg orally every 6 hours for 7-10 days | Not recommended for patients with a history of allergy to Cephalosporins or those with a history of liver disease |
| Ceftriaxone | 1-2g IV every 24 hours for 7-14 days | Should not be used in patients with a history of allergy to Cephalosporins |
| Fosfomycin | 3g orally as a single dose | Not recommended for patients with severe renal impairment or those under 18 years of age |
| Nitrofurantoin | 100mg orally every 12 hours for 5-7 days | Not recommended for patients with creatinine clearance below 60 mL/min or those at term (38-42 weeks) of pregnancy |
| Sulfamethoxazole / Trimethoprim | 1-2 double-strength tablets orally every 12 hours for 14 days | Not recommended for patients with a history of allergy to Sulfonamides or those with severe liver or kidney disease |
*The doses mentioned in the above table are average recommended doses, which can vary from person to person. You should never start taking antibiotics on your own and should never deviate from your doctor’s recommended doses.
How to know you have an active kidney infection?’
You may have a kidney infection if you’re suffering from the following signs and symptoms:
- A dull ache or pain in the lower back or side of the body, which can be severe in some cases. The pain may also radiate to the groin or abdomen.
- High fever, often above 101°F (38.3°C), along with chills and shivering.
- Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
- Frequent urination, along with a burning sensation during urination.
- Blood in the urine, which often indicates a more serious infection.
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Fatigue, weakness, and a general feeling of sickness.
Final words
You should seek medical attention if you think you have a kidney infection. Kidneys are responsible for a number of basic physiological functions, and untreated bacterial infections can cause permanent damage to these vital organs.
This is why it is extremely important for you to get your condition properly diagnosed and to start taking the prescribed antibiotics and other medications suggested by your doctor to help ease the symptoms.
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References
1.-
Amoxicillin: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. U.S. National Library of Medicine. [Accessed 25 Jan 2023]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697037.html.
2.-
Kidney infection treatment – NHS. [Internet]. National Health Service (NHS). [Accessed 25 Jan 2023]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-infection/treatment/
