Urinary tract infections, a fairly common ailment in children, are getting tougher to treat.

A study published recently in the British Medical Journal found that pediatric urinary tract infections typically caused by the E. coli bacteria are increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Drugs such as ampicillin and trimethroprim [tri·meth·o·prim] are becoming less effective, the study found. Researchers made their conclusions after reviewing data from 58 previous studies.

What’s more, the problem is a global one. The studies analyzed data from countries distributed across five continents.

Not surprisingly, the researchers say the growth of drug resistance is due to general over-prescription of antibiotics. The heavy use of antibiotics has been a problem for decades and is increasingly leading to infections that are harder to combat.

The trend of growing resistance among urinary tract infections was most prevalent in children who had taken antibiotics in the six months prior to infection. Underscoring the importance of wise antibiotic use, the dangers of a urinary tract infection that is not effectively treated are quite serious: Kidney damage can occur if it gets out of hand.

The tendency toward resistance also arises with other types of infections, including skin and gastrointestinal infections as well as pneumonia.

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections means prevention is important. Basic safeguards such as washing hands, adequate bathing and perhaps even consuming probiotics can help to keep a stubborn urinary tract infection from taking hold.