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My Wife Has MS And Uses An Intermittent Catheter. She

Posted on Tue, 16 Oct 2018

Question: My wife has MS and uses an intermittent catheter. She gets frequent bladder infections and her symptoms are usually frequent urination. Her urologist has suggested holding off on treating her current infection unless her symptoms worsen. The urologist is concerned that the frequent use of antibiotics will cause C.diff. Will not treating the infection cause it to spread to the kidneys or blood. Thank You

Answered by Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
If she has symptoms, she should be treated

Detailed Answer:
Hi Blkus

If your wife has symptoms, e.g. frequent urination, and a positive urinalysis, she should receive antibiotic treatment, preferably guided by urine cultures.

Hope this helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (12 hours later)

What about the risk of c.difficile because of the frequent use of antibiotics. Thank You.

Answered by Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
based on risk vs benefit, the C.Difficile risk is presumably lower than the risk of urosepsis

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,

It is difficult to determine what carries the highest risk for her health; treatment for UTI or no treatment. I'd suggest treatment.

Alternatively, if she has no fever and feels okay, you may try holding antibiotic treatment as per her Urologist, but it is important to drink plenty of fluid, also cranberry juice may be helpful.

Hope this helps.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee