Help with Urinary Tract Infection?

[Cheerr]

My dad has got a UTI (e.coli) post TRUS Biopsy. Unfortunately the Urine Culture shows he is resistant to the Antibiotics he used prior and after the biopsy.

The only 4 Antibiotics he is sensitive to are all injections given via IV and he is moderately sensitive to amoxicillin/clavulanate.

He is currently taking Sulbactum + Cefoperazone injection twice a day via IV for 5 days. And post that has been asked to take amoxicillin/clavulanate thrice a day 10 days.

I'v read few posts on how Cranberry juice can be helpful, BUT a few where they've talked about how it can irritate the bladder. So not sure. (If you're suggesting Cranberry juice, please also let me know the best way to make it at home?)

Please advice on food to include / avoid during a UTI?

Do I need to be more alert or worry more about the current situation? [Sorry I am just very worried already].

All suggestions are welcome!

[LearnAll]

cheer, if he has got multi drug resistant E Coli, it has to be taken very seriously. Its beyond the craneberry juice 's capacity to kill this type of E Coli.

The I V antibiotics are must and they only will kill MD E Coli. The only other thing which might help marginally is a sugar called D-Mannose. E Coli has tiny fimbriae on their surface with which they attach to the host's tissues. D Mannose makes the tissues slippery and E Coli can not attach strongly and start falling in urine to be flushed out.

D Mannose is not expensive . Again, there is no substitute for I V antibiotics.

[Cheerr in reply to LearnAll]

Hi thank you,

Yes we are going to take the IV and antibiotics (tablets) - basically everything needed and told my the doctor for sure.

So the Urine Culture report shows a set of 11 antibiotics tested against the bacteria. And 4 of them worked (the IV ones), 5th one (a tablet) worked but not as effective as the first 4. And the rest 6 were resistant.

Does this happen usually? Where people may be resistant to some of the drugs on the list?

[LearnAll in reply to Cheerr]

Yes..it does happen...it is not uncommon. You should allow your doctor to use the IV antibiotics to which this type of E Coli is fully sensitive. Avoid the antibiotics to which this E Coli is partial sensitive as that does not work. The goal is of to completely eradicate the bacteria to prevent relapse of this infection. I know people who needed a full month of IV antibiotics to totally cure the infection.

How will you know that the infection is completely gone......In his urinalysis, you will see NITRITES absent, LEUCOCYTE Esterase absent, WBC absent or 1-3 per HPF . And his blood will show absence of WBC , bacteria etc. To be 100% certain, your doctor might do a repeat Urine and/ or blood culture ….if This E Coli ( MDRO type) doe snot show

then, its fully cured.. Most people do well afterwards.

Note: Take precautions, make sure other people in household do not catch this bad bug otherwise they will need I V antibiotics. Ask Nurse/Doctor what precations you need to prevent infection in family members.

[Cheerr in reply to LearnAll]

Thank you so much for this useful information at a time when I was panicking and literally opening every other website for info.

I understand it should be treated strictly and we will, but am also relieved that it can and will go away hopefully soon.

[CantChoose]

UTIs in immunocompromised or elderly people are like pneumonia - - opportunistic infections that arise from bacteria that's already in the body. Do the things you would do for any illness: rest, fluids, sunshine, laughter, comfort.

The risk of an infection after prostate biopsy is very high (8%?). I hope they can knock this out - - sending you good thoughts.

[Cheerr in reply to CantChoose]

Hi iv been following your posts off late and I hope your husbands chemo is going well now?

Thank you so much, need all the good wishes

[CantChoose in reply to Cheerr]

Thank you - - he's day 4 after the second infusion (usually the worst day) and we just walked at the local botanic garden for four hours. He's doing really great!

Hoping the PSA starts to fall soon.

[Tall_Allen]

BTW- what were the biopsy results?

[BrentW]

Hi Nalakrats. Interesting question. After my LRP in 2010, I was for about two years plagued with UTIs. We would rid me of one thing only for another to move in. This happened while I was living on tropical Trinidad. During a six week holiday in temperate Canada (carrying all manner of anitbiotics with me), my infections cleared up. Coincidence? Quite possibly. But I do wonder if some climates are better suited to UTIs (for the bacterias' point of view) than others.

[dadzone43]

Two suggestions: while treating drink LOTS of water. Yes you will be peeing a lot--merely inconvenient. Cranberry juice is a urine acidifier and bacteria do not like acidic urine. It helps, marginally. Read the label carefully and avoid the brands that are more sugar than cranberry. Finally there are prescription meds that also acidify the urine. Be very cautious if he is offered fluoroquinalone antibiotics. These can have devastating effects on muscle and ligaments

[Hidden]

I read your post and the first reaction was, why is he not in the hospital?

In 2003, I had an infection manifesting from a prostate biopsy. Two days later I was in the hospital for seven days with alternating IV antibiotics. Why? People die of e-coli blood stream infections! My Urologist immediately had me admitted. Let me repeat, seven days on an IV with alternating drug drips. The situation calls for constant medical monitoring. Cost me a trip to Japan for my son’s wedding.

Second question, where are you located?

Third question, has medical care changed this much in 16 years?

Best of luck.

Gourd Dancer

[j-o-h-n]

These are various meds that were used to treat my UTIs one was so bad that I started to hallucinate:

Cipro, Levaquin, Vancomycin, Aztreonam, Gentamicin.

There are cranberry pills (which I take). Costco has a good price for them.

Hope your Dad get better....

As a disclaimer, I am not a doctor, but I do look handsome in a white coat.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 07/22/2019 5:43 PM DST

[Jenbt in reply to j-o-h-n]

Hi John

Can I ask if you what way you were affected with the UTI? My FIL is currently hospitalised with suspected infection being treated with Gentamicin (day 2 of antis). Where you very drowsy and sleepy during infection?

[j-o-h-n in reply to Jenbt]

I was hospitalized twice but I don't recall being drowsy. But I do remember having intravenous penicillin during my first UTI. I broke out with a terrible rash all over my body and had to have a intravenous antihistamine to cure that. I did hallucinate with my first bout. I hope he beats the infection. God Bless....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 08/21/2019 10:35 AM DST