View comments by: Most Recent - first / last | Most Popular - first / last | Replies - hide / show

UTI Resistance to antibiotics

Hi, I have suffered for many years with UTI's despite doing everything recommended to avoid getting them. Last week my GP phoned with the result of my latest lab test and told me I had developed an antibiotic resistant strain of e Coli. I was prescribed nitrofurantoin which helped but I felt it wasn't gone completely so was prescribed ciprofloxacin which has had some very negative reports re side effects. Currently I'm drinking cranberry juice, lots of water and taking a powder called D Mannone which apparently is harmless but is very successful at clearing UTI's, so far so good. I will of course put a repeat sample into the lab to ensure all is well. Just wondering if anybody else has experienced antibiotic resistant UTI's? The development of antibiotic infections is rather worrying.


Created By on 10/09/2017

Not a member?

You need to be a member to interact with Silversurfers. Joining is free and simple to do. Click the button below to join today!

jeanmark
20th Sep 2017 15:17:19 (Last activity: 25th Sep 2017 19:59:08)
1
Thanks for voting!
There are a number of bacterial infections that may develop into antibiotic resistance. E.Coli is a fairly common one. Resistance has occurred for a number of reason and not solely because of over prescribing.

It is not always wise to rely purely on what are sometimes consider natural products as there are a number of very serious bacterial infections that will only respond to conventional treatment and, in these rare circumstances, to try otherwise can result in death, an outcome I have witnessed on a number of occasions. Minor infections could be treated with more natural products but never assume 'natural' means safe. Even garlic has been known to cause problems. Antibiotics still have an important role to play as long as they are used wisely.
Response from lizzybop Original Poster made on 21st Sep 2017 22:52:32
Thank you for your reply. My reason for looking for a natural alternative is because I'm afraid that I may run out of antibiotic options. I really need to sit down with my GP and ask some questions about the resistance and how likely it is that I will become resistant to the remaining ones.
Response from CaroleAH made on 22nd Sep 2017 00:01:46
Please correct me if I'm wrong, Jeanmark, but I don't think that your GP will be able to tell you whether or not your infection will be resistant to the prescribed antibiotic, Lizzybop, until a sample has been sent for analysis at the laboratory. I believe that it's the infection which is resistant not you as a person. However, you might be sensitive to or allergic to an antibiotic which can narrow the choice of medication available, which can be prescribed for you.
Response from jeanmark made on 22nd Sep 2017 15:12:33
Exactly right CaroleAH, it is the bacteria that becomes resistant not the person. However, you are also right in pointing out that a person can be allergic or sensitive to an antibiotic, or any drug including paracetamol, and that is not the fault of the medication just bad luck for the individual. I have been allergic to penicillin for many years, mainly as a result of the way we used to draw up drugs when I was a student nurse. However, that doesn't mean I can not take other antibiotics as long as they don't belong to the penicillin family. Allergy to medicines is no different than allergies to certain foods etc. which is also on the increase.
Response from CaroleAH made on 22nd Sep 2017 16:49:21
Thank-you, Jeanmark. I'm also allergic to penicillin and trimethoprim so UTIs can be a bit problematic!
Response from lizzybop Original Poster made on 22nd Sep 2017 20:34:35
Thanks, you are quite right, it is the bacteria that is resistant not me. I didn't word that message very well when I re read it. The lab report showed multi resistant e coli. What I want to know is will any future e coli infections be resistant as well, it is usually e coli that shows on my lab results. I have now started on the ciprofloxacin in the hope I can clear all traces then I'm going to try using thd DMannose as a preventive. With limited antibiotic options I want to do all I can to avoid future UTI's.
Response from jeanmark made on 23rd Sep 2017 18:58:46
Lizzybop I private messaged you to explain about UTI's and about E.Coli in the hope it would help you. E.Coli is a natural bacteria of the gut and if you read my explanation it may help understand what steps you may be able to take to reduce the problem of re-occurence.
Response from jeanmark made on 25th Sep 2017 13:57:23
I won't disagree that pharmaceutical companies, like any company, are interested in profit as that is what makes them viable. I also recognise they hold the upper hand and we, out of necessity, pay the price for this profit. However, we are coming from different directions and thus each will see the good in each approach.

Having worked in the field of Infectious Diseases, Tropical medicine and HIV I am well aware that a healthy lifestyle or, as the followers of Orthomolecular medicine believe, maintain health through nutritional supplementation, will not necessarily protect you from certain conditions and in such situations drugs are the answer. I appreciate a number of these diseases are preventable if people follow advice, Malaria is a classic example, but there are endless examples when advise has been considered irrelevant and thus not followed. There are also a number of chronic conditions that will also make you more prone to certain infections and these may not be related to lifestyle but genetics.

Yes, pharmaceutical companies remain interested in profit and I still recall the day my months drug budget was spent on one patient in one day to save her life. I was left with the problem of where I could make up this deficit, but a specific drug was the only answer to saving her and any alternative therapy would not have helped. I'm all for exploring complimentary medicines but do believe these should be complimentary and not as an alternative to conventional medicines when the need arises. I may be biased as I have witnessed unnecessary deaths in young people who have been advised to follow an alternative rather than endure the side effects conventional medicines.
Response from jeanmark made on 25th Sep 2017 19:59:08
Interesting I know a number of doctors who do practice complimentary treatment along side conventional ones. I accept these are ones that have a sound evidence base but at least they are tried. It may be that those Consultants I know who are in the area of Infectious Diseases etc are more open to these as they have spent a number of years in developing countries gaining experience in their specialists field and where there is very little conventional medicine available as they are too poor.

Many of my nursing staff also trained in such things a therapeutical aromatherapy massage which proved very beneficial to our HIV patients ( and me as they always had to have a 'dummy' when learning)!!

My own GP practice advised me to try Glucosamine for my arthritic joints and it has been very beneficial. They will also refer you, by letter, to a Chiropractic which is accepted by private health insurance companies.

The NHS may not be adverse to trying alternatives but rarely have the time to explore these, there will of course always be sceptics and those patients very ready to take legal advise if such treatments are not as they hoped. You would also be surprised at how aggressive some patients become if not offered 'drugs' which they believe is their right because they have paid for them and that includes paracetamol!!!
[deleted]
11th Sep 2017 15:57:21 (Last activity: 21st Sep 2017 22:57:16)
0
Thanks for voting!
[deleted]
Response from lizzybop Original Poster made on 21st Sep 2017 22:57:16
I'm glad your wife recovered it must have been a real nightmare. I'm not opposed to taking medication but do also have an interest in natural remedies. What I want to do is try and prevent further infections and am hoping the D Mannose will do that.

Community Terms & Conditions

Content standards

These content standards apply to any and all material which you contribute to our site (contributions), and to any interactive services associated with it.

You must comply with the spirit of the following standards as well as the letter. The standards apply to each part of any contribution as well as to its whole.

Contributions must:

be accurate (where they state facts); be genuinely held (where they state opinions); and comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.

Contributions must not:

contain any material which is defamatory of any person; or contain any material which is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory; or promote sexually explicit material; or promote violence; promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; or infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person; or be likely to deceive any person; or be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence; or promote any illegal activity; or be threatening, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; or be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person; or be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person; or give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case; or advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.

Nurturing a safe environment

Our Silversurfers community is designed to foster friendships, based on trust, honesty, integrity and loyalty and is underpinned by these values.

We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!