have a Health Alert today about urinary tract infections on the rise and resistance to antibiotics our chief health editor dr. Parkin Andy has some good advice for people coping with this problem as antibiotic resistance continues to be a threat to global health another common infection is becoming harder to treat and that's urinary tract infections now your detracked infections are so common that one in two women will have at least one in their lifetime and many end up with repeat infections as well men also get them but not as often now typically UTIs are treated with two common antibiotics bactrim or ciprofloxacin but growing evidence shows that UTIs are becoming more resistant to these medications and this is extremely concerning now anyone who's experienced a UTI knows how painful and annoying can be typically you'll feel the urge to urinate a lot and feel a burning pain when doing so now the scary thing about UTI is becoming antibiotic resistant is that if they're not treated you could end up with a kidney infection or permanent kidney damage women can have premature babies men can have urethral narrowing and UTIs and both sexes can potentially lead to sepsis which can kill if not treated so what can be done first of all please don't ask your doctor for antibiotics when you have a cold or the flu they don't work for viral illnesses secondly do ask your doctor if there are other alternatives you could take first instead of antibiotics thirdly to help avoid UTIs be sure to empty your bladder completely and remember that hygiene is critically important and lastly importantly keep hydrated drinking lots of water helps dilute your urine 4 7 Action News I'm dr. partha Andy all right dr. Nandi thank you