From the Research
For a patient with a UTI who has received one dose of ceftriaxone 1g IV, the recommended treatment is to complete a total of 3 days of antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone, as a 3-day course has been shown to be as efficacious as longer antibiotic courses 1. After the initial IV dose, the patient can be transitioned to an appropriate oral antibiotic (such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, or amoxicillin-clavulanate) based on susceptibility testing, if the patient can tolerate oral medications and symptoms are improving. Some key points to consider in the treatment of UTIs include:
- Ensuring adequate hydration during treatment
- Monitoring for symptom resolution
- Considering the potential for Proteus species to cause persistent infections and be associated with kidney stone formation due to their urease activity that raises urine pH
- The importance of completing the full treatment course to completely eradicate the infection and prevent recurrence. It's worth noting that older studies, such as those from 1983 2 and 1985 3, may not reflect the most current recommendations, and the 1979 study 4 is not relevant to the treatment of UTIs. Therefore, the most recent and highest quality study, from 2022 1, should guide treatment decisions.