Understanding The Effectiveness Of Antibiotics In Treating Urinary Tract Infection

According to a new study researchers say a three-day regimen of the antibiotic amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) is not as effective as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) at treating an uncomplicated bladder infection in women.

The most common bacterial infections for women are acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Treating the problem has become increasingly difficult because of antimicrobial resistance ,hence alternative antibiotics have become the answer in many cases.

Researchers studied 370 women between ages 18 to 45 and compared the effectiveness of a three-day regimen of amoxicillin-clavulanate to ciprofloxacin for treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis.

Ciprofloxacin was found to be about 20-percent more effective than amoxicillin-clavulanate at producing a clinical cure resolution of the symptoms associated with UTI. Thus researchers say amoxicillin-clavulanate should be considered only when use of other first- and second-line antibiotics is not feasible.