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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Recurrent UTI Despite Taking Cranberry Supplements?

I am a 77 year old single woman and for the past year I have been getting UTIs quite often. I drink water, take a cranberry capsule every morning and drink cranberry juice but they are still recurring and only antibiotics seem to work. Is there something I am doing that I shouldn t do or something I should be doing that I am not?
Tue, 9 Aug 2016
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Urinary tract infections are the commonest bacterial infection in older people and the risk increases with age. Women suffer more frequently from recurrent UTI than men because of their shorter urethra and proximity of urethral opening to anus. Other predisposing factors in old age include diabetes, urinary tract stones, steroid use, and chronic illness impairing immune system.
Advice
1.     Drink plenty of water to flush out bacteria
2.     Drink cranberry juice
3.     Do not hold your urine. Urinate when you feel
4.     Wipe from front to back after bowel movements
5.     Urinate after having sex to flush bacteria
6.     Use K – Y jelly during sex for enough lubrication if vaginal dryness is a problem
7.     Syrup alkaline citrate 2 teaspoonful three times daily for 1 week
8.     Take antibiotic after culture and sensitivity report
If recurrence still occurs despite above measures then cefalexin 125 mg daily per oral may be taken for 6 months as prophylactic treatment.
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What Causes Recurrent UTI Despite Taking Cranberry Supplements?

Urinary tract infections are the commonest bacterial infection in older people and the risk increases with age. Women suffer more frequently from recurrent UTI than men because of their shorter urethra and proximity of urethral opening to anus. Other predisposing factors in old age include diabetes, urinary tract stones, steroid use, and chronic illness impairing immune system. Advice 1. Drink plenty of water to flush out bacteria 2. Drink cranberry juice 3. Do not hold your urine. Urinate when you feel 4. Wipe from front to back after bowel movements 5. Urinate after having sex to flush bacteria 6. Use K – Y jelly during sex for enough lubrication if vaginal dryness is a problem 7. Syrup alkaline citrate 2 teaspoonful three times daily for 1 week 8. Take antibiotic after culture and sensitivity report If recurrence still occurs despite above measures then cefalexin 125 mg daily per oral may be taken for 6 months as prophylactic treatment. Thanks