Antibiotics Top Cranberries to Prevent UTIs

Antibiotics prevent more urinary tract infections (UTIs) than cranberry pills, a new study has found. But taking antibiotics also led to more resistant bacteria. The study included 221 women. All of them had at least 3 UTIs in the last year. They were randomly divided into two groups. One group took 2 daily cranberry pills and 1 placebo pill. The other group took trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. This antibiotic is sold as Bactrim, Septra and other brands. These women took 1 antibiotic pill and 2 placebo pills each day. The women did not know which drug they were getting. In the next year, women who took the antibiotics had an average of 2 UTIs. The average was 4 infections with the cranberry pills. Within the first month, 85% of those taking the antibiotic had resistant E. coli in their bodies. E. coli bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs.