Title: Urinary Tract Infections vs Cystitis vs Pyelonephritis - The Difference | FAQ
Headings: Urinary Tract Infections & Bladder Infection
Urinary Tract Infections & Bladder Infection
UTI vs Bladder infection
Bladder infection (Cystitis) vs Kidney infection (Pyelonephritis)
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
References

Content: Kidney infections generally start as a bladder infection that travels up the ureters to the kidneys. Most common causative bacteria in UTIs 1, 2: Escherichia coli - the predominant uropathogen in uncomplicated UTIs in adults and children, accounts for about 86% of cases
Enterococcus species
Klebsiella species
Proteus species
Enterobacter species
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
Staphylococcus aureus
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Treatment
Most UTIs require treatment with antibiotic. Treatment of UTI depends on location of the infection. Pyelonephritis and cystitis are treated differently. Bladder infection in women is usually treated with a brief course of oral antibiotics. See Antibiotics for bladder infection. Uncomplicated pyelonephritis in women can be treated with course of oral fluoroquinolone antibiotics or with initial intravenous antimicrobial therapy followed by oral regimen. See Treatment of acute pyelonephritis in women. Complicated pyelonephritis requires treatment with broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics.