The usual treatment for both simple and complicated urinary tract infections is antibiotics. For a bladder infection, a three-day course of antibiotics is usually enough. Some physicians prefer a seven-day course of therapy to be sure of getting rid of the infection.
Adult males with a UTI usually require 7 to 14 days of antibiotic therapy. If the prostate is also infected (prostatitis), more than two weeks of antibiotic treatment may be required.
To alleviate burning pain during urination, phenazopyridine (UTI Relief), or a similar drug, can be used for one to two days.
For infections involving the kidney(pyelonephritis), patients may receive IV may receive IV fluids and antibiotics or an injection of antibiotics, followed by 10-14 days of oral antibiotics. Some patients will require hospitalization. A complicated infection may require treatment for several weeks.
