It’s important to treat any UTI as quickly as possible but even more so if it’s a cUTI. Some issues can make a cUTI harder to treat, such as:
- Having a blockage in your urinary tract
- Urinary retention
- Kidney stones
- Having a urinary catheter
- Having a weakened immune system
- Antibiotic-resistant bacteria
The first step in treatment is often a broad-spectrum antibiotic even before your test results come back. These antibiotics treat several types of bacteria at once. When your results come back with the type of bacteria that’s present, you might stay on that original antibiotic, or it may be changed to a more targeted one. Research is ongoing to find better treatments for cUTIs, and in June 2026, the FDA approved a new oral antibiotic for certain adults who have cUTIs including kidney infections, who have limited or no other treatment options.
Many people start feeling better within a few days of starting their antibiotic. If you don’t feel better or your symptoms are worsening, contact your clinician as soon as possible. Your treatment might be changed to a different one or you might need IV antibiotics. Then once the IV antibiotics start working, usually you’d be switched back to pills.
A primary care clinician, internist or hospitalist might treat your cUTI, but you could be referred to a urologist or an infectious disease (ID) specialist. A urologist specializes in treating conditions that affect the urinary tract, while an ID specialist can help choose the best antibiotics to treat the infection.
Aside from treating the infection, you may need pain relief medications if your pain is severe.
