Prevention

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There are several simple, do-it-yourself techniques that may prevent a urinary tract infection. Some may work some of the time or only in some women. But, because they carry no side effects, they certainly are worth trying to prevent the often painful and bothersome symptoms the infection can bring:

• Drink plenty of fluid—the equivalent of six to eight 8-ounce glasses—every day to flush bacteria out of your urinary system. Water is the ideal fluid because it is readily available, inexpensive and non-caloric, but other beverages also count toward your fluid intake, including juices, milk and herbal teas. Even alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine and caffeinated beverages such as coffee and colas help replenish your fluids, but don't rely heavily on them because they have diuretic properties. Additionally, alcohol and caffeine, as well as spicy foods, are among the substances that may irritate the bladder and, thus, should be avoided.

• Make sure you're getting vitamin C in your diet, either through diet or supplements. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, makes your urine acidic, which discourages the growth of bacteria. Drinking cranberry juice may also produce the same effect. Cranberry tablets are a more concentrated form of cranberry juice without the sugar content.

• Urinate frequently and when you feel the urge; don't hold it in. Keeping urine in your bladder for long periods gives bacteria a place to grow.

• Avoid using feminine hygiene sprays and scented douches. They also may irritate the urethra.

If you suffer from urinary tract infections more than three times a year, your health care professional may suggest one of the following therapies to try to prevent another recurrence:

• a low dosage of an antibiotic medication such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole or nitrofurantoin, taken daily for six months or longer

• a single dose of an antibiotic medication taken after sexual intercourse if it is determined that your UTIs are related to sex

• a short, one- or two-day course of antibiotic medication taken when symptoms appear

Some research suggests that a woman's blood type may play a role in her risk of recurrent UTIs. Bacteria may be able to attach to cells in the urinary tract more easily in those with certain blood factors. Additional research will determine if such an association exists and whether it could be useful in identifying people at risk of developing recurrent UTIs.

Vaccines are being developed to help patients build up their own natural infection-fighting powers. Vaccines that are prepared using dead bacteria do not spread like an infection; instead, they prompt the body to produce antibodies that can later fight live organisms. Researchers are currently testing injection and oral vaccines as well as vaccine suppositories that are placed in the vagina.

And recent research out of Duke University shows that forskolin, an extract from the Indian coleus plant, can flush out hidden colonies of E. coli bacteria that can hide out in the bladder and cause recurrent urinary tract infections.