His and Her Health

Hi,

I got an enterococcus UTI from the hospital (catheter-ugh). I've had it since the end of Dec, but because my symptoms were mild, didn't go to dr. to get it diagnosed 'til Jan. 16. Anyway, I took Fosfomycin Jan. 20. That didn't get rid of it. Dr. said wait 10 days to make sure it didn't work, re-test and try another antibiotic. My urinalysis susceptibility test said the isolate is S to Macrobid, Levaquin, Cipro, Penicillin, and Vancomycin. I'm allergic to Penicillin. I've a 10-day prescription for Cipro, of which I've taken 7 days, and the infection doesn't seem better.

Dr. thinks I should take Macrobid but not until I finished all the Cipro.

I need to get rid of this infection! I've had it so long now. I worry it will move to kidneys.

Any advice?

Antibiotic-resistant UTI brings up two thoughts for me: first, the diagnosis is wrong, and there really isn't an infection there (or there isn't one any longer, even though the irritation persists for a little while), and two: the wrong antibiotic is being used. Macrobid is a good drug, working only in the bladder and causing few side effects.
As far as the first point, some women seem to have irritative bladder symptoms for awhile after UTIs, possbly a mild form of a condition called Interstitial Cystitis. If your symptoms persist and an infection is no longer found, a Urologist might be able to help.
As always, drinking more water and/or cranberry juice, and emptying the bladder before and after sex are key to preventing more problems.
Good luck- and make sure you finish your medications.