There’s No Such Thing As A “Simple” UTI Anymore

The Evolution of UTI’s: Why They’re So Hard to Manage

Remember when you saw the doctor, a urine culture confirmed a UTI, and you left with a prescription that completely cured your infection? Those days are over. There’s no such thing as a “simple” UTI anymore, so we must find new strategies to manage these infections.

A recent clinical analysis in the journal Microbiology Research explains why UTIs have become so difficult to handle. The comparison between “Today’s UTI” and the “Simple UTI” of a few years ago illustrates the increased complexity of these infections.

The authors challenge the long-held belief that the “urobiome” is sterile and only occasionally faces attacks by infectious bacteria. Instead, they describe an environment where many different strains of bacteria continuously circulate, some beneficial and some harmful.

Maintaining the right balance of good and bad bacteria presents a significant challenge. This task becomes especially difficult when traditional testing methods fail to produce accurate results, and bacteria learn to outsmart antibiotic drugs.

15 Types of UTI-Causing Bacteria

Fifteen types of bacteria cause UTIs. The majority (80%) are gram-negative bacteria, known for their virulence and difficulty in clearing up with today’s antibiotics due to over-prescription. A small percentage consists of gram-positive bacteria, typically acquired in hospital settings and relatively easy to treat with antibiotics.

Only 2 Effective Oral Antibiotics Today

Table 2 displays the 22 available antibiotics for treating gram-negative bacteria. Only a few of these antibiotics effectively clear up UTIs, which explains why your UTI keeps recurring. Most of the effective antibiotics that remain require IV administration (shown in blue bars). Specifically, there are only 2 oral antibiotics that are effective: Nitrofurantoin and Fosfomycin.

The Article Raises Alarm Bells, Recommends Reducing Reliance on Antibiotics

Conclusions in this Microbiology Research article about where things are headed are grim. The authors advocate reducing reliance on antibiotics to gain control over this problem.

Consumers Are Left To Manage Their Own UTIs Today

Paradoxically, as the urobiome and its associated testing and treatment options become more complex, consumers increasingly seek their own solutions to improve their health. Most doctors adhere strictly to FDA guidelines, only recommending antibiotics, which exacerbates the problem. Additionally, some suggest advanced DNA testing and natural product alternatives.

Consider New DNA Testing 

The article suggests that traditional urine culture is no longer sufficient. Therefore, chronic UTI sufferers should consider advanced DNA testing for a more definitive report on all possible bacteria and fungi causing their recurring symptoms. Take a look at a sample report here.

These tests, once prohibitively expensive five years ago ($2500+), are now directly available to consumers. A kit can be sent to your home for $199, and a report delivered to your email within 48 hours. Learn more about MYUTI here.

Seek Alternatives To Antibiotics 

The following items were mentioned in the article as effective against E. coli infections, which remain the most challenging to treat: