What should I do if my antibiotic doesn’t work for my urinary tract infection? Vaginal yeast infections can also cause burning when you pee. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, for example, produce symptoms that mimic a UTI. If you felt better for a little while and then came down with the symptoms of a UTI again, it is also possible that you have a new or recurrent UTI.Īnother possibility if you continue to experience symptoms of a UTI despite antibiotic treatment, is that you have another type of infection that mimics that symptoms of a UTI and you need a different antibiotic or other treatment. Inappropriate and unnecessary antibiotic use contributes to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance. If an antibiotic doesn’t work it is likely that the bacteria causing the UTI is not susceptible or is resistant to the antibiotic you are taking.Īntibiotic resistance occurs when the bacteria that is causing the infection is no longer affected by a particular antibiotic and is able to continue to grow and multiply.

Why do antibiotics sometimes not work for a urinary tract infection? If you have a kidney infection it may take you a few more days to feel better after you start antibiotics. Kidney infections are usually treated with a longer 7-14 day course of antibiotics and in more severe or complicated cases may require treatment with intravenous (IV) antibiotics and admission to hospital. Left untreated, kidney infections can permanently damage the kidneys and can sometimes become life-threatening. If your antibiotic is not working then these symptoms will likely continue and you may even develop symptoms of a more serious kidney infection (pyelonephritis) including: Feeling pressure or cramping in your lower abdomen.Feeling like you need to pee within minutes of going.Pain or a burning sensation when you urinate or pee.The symptoms of an uncomplicated bladder infection typically include: If your symptoms don’t improve or you start to feel worse then your antibiotic may not be working. Usually people start to feel better within 1-2 days of starting an antibiotic to treat a bladder infection. What are the signs that an antibiotic is not working for a urinary tract infection?

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