Intestinal infection: antibiotics for treatment

Penetrating into the digestive system, pathogenic microorganisms begin a violent life, releasing poisons and toxins, poisoning the human body. Drug therapy of intestinal infection with antibiotics can prevent microbial colonization, eliminate inflammation in the organs of the digestive tract and prevent the penetration of infection into other systems and organs.

The principle of any treatment is the "do no harm" commandment, and the treatment of intestinal infection with antibiotics - is no exception. Therefore, if the first signs of the disease are found, you need to seek medical help in order to avoid complications, and in no case should self-medicate. The therapeutic effect should be comprehensive, with the mandatory inclusion of antibiotic therapy and diet.

Indications and contraindications

Antibiotics are substances of biological or synthetic origin that inhibit the growth and development of bacteria and individual microscopic fungi. There are many antibacterial drugs, with some of them working even in the case of an undefined diagnosis, they are called broad-spectrum drugs.

Antibiotics for intestinal infection are accepted in the following cases:

• diagnosed salmonellosis, dysentery, cholera or escherichiosis;
• complications and severe intestinal infection;
• septic lesion and the occurrence of infectious foci outside the intestinal cavity;
• diarrhea more than 10 times a day;
• marked intoxication, which can not be eliminated by sorbents, gastric lavage and abundant drinking;
• traces of blood and the presence of mucous impurities in feces;
• antibiotics are mandatory for intestinal infection in adults and children with hemolytic anemia, immunodeficiency states and various neoplasms.

It is not recommended to use antibiotics for intestinal infections. The fact is that in this case, separate drugs are used, the action of which should be directed at a certain group of pathogens.

Find out what exactly caused the disease, and only the doctor can determine the infectious agent. Thus preparations should be accepted under the individual scheme, depending on gravity of intestinal infection, age and features of an organism of the patient.

Contraindications to the use of antibiotics

Antibiotics of a group of fluoroquinols in intestinal infections in children are contraindicated in the age group under 2 years. They are prescribed if the disease is severe, while trying to choose the most sparing modern drugs. With caution apply antibiotics in adolescents. The fact is that these drugs can adversely affect the condition of the muscular and bone systems.

Antibiotics of the erythromycin group in intestinal infection are undesirable to be prescribed during pregnancy and lactation.

Any antibacterial drugs are prescribed with caution to persons suffering from liver and urinary system diseases.

Side effects of

There are no antibiotics that do not have undesirable effects. Often they are allergic, the blood composition worsens, the liver suffers. That's why antibiotics from an intestinal infection should be selected by a specialist.

Side effects of antibiotic therapy:

• violation of hematopoiesis: anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia;
• disruption of the CNS - tingling and numbness in the tissues, spasms, paresthesia, disorientation in space, increased drowsiness, muscle weakness, epileptic seizures;
• disorders of the digestive system - decreased or no appetite, impaired liver function, diarrhea, vomiting;
• disorders from the senses - hearing impairment, ringing in the ears, temporary hearing loss, dizziness, problems with coordination of movements and breathing;
• problems from the genitourinary system - thirst, urination disorder, the appearance of blood and protein in the urine;
• hypotensive syndrome, allergic reactions of the body in the form of itching, skin rashes and fever.

Instruction for use and dosage

The use of antibiotics for intestinal infections in adults already in the first day after the start of treatment has a positive effect.

Adult medications include:

1. Beta-lactams: Ampicillin 0.5 g every 12 hours, Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, Amoxiclav, Augmentin - 1250 mg every 12 hours.
2. Macrolides: Azithromycin 0.5 g every 12 hours, Clarithromycin 0.5 g every 12 hours.
3. Aminoglycosides: Tetracycline 0.5 g 4 times a day.
4. Nitrofurans: Nifuroxazide 0.2 g 4 times a day.
5. Fluoroquinolones: Ciprofloxacin 0.5 g every 12 hours, Levofloxacin 0.5 g every 12 hours.

For children of choice, :

1. Amoxicillin 0.5 g 2 times a day.
2. Ceftriaxone 20-80 mg per kg of child weight intramuscularly or intravenously.
3. Cefepime 50 mg per kg of child weight intravenously or intramuscularly.
4. Azithromycin 0.25 g once a day.
5. Clarithromycin 0.25 g 2 times a day.

The treatment regimen and dosage of antibacterial agents is specified by the physician in an individual form.

Overview of popular antibiotics

The following antibiotics are most commonly used for intestinal infection in adults:

1. Levomycytin .A drug of wide action, effective against most pathogens, including cholera and typhus. Because of the large list of side effects and contraindications does not apply in childhood. Normally, Levomycytin is prescribed by a doctor in cases where other groups of antibiotics from intestinal infection failed to produce the desired effect.
2. Rifaximin( Alpha Normix) .A low-toxic antibacterial agent, which is equally suitable for the therapy of adults and children. Rifaximin not only disastically affects the pathogenic microflora, but also prevents the further development of complications.
3. It should also be noted the efficacy for enteric infections in adult antibiotics from the penicillin category. For example, Ampicillin is a semi-synthetic drug that can be used in expectant mothers and children.
4. In addition, an antibiotic from the group of fluoroquinolones is often prescribed, for example, Ciprofloxacin .Fluoroquinolones differ in activity against a wide range of microorganisms, and practically do not provoke the development of dysbacteriosis.

For intestinal infections in children, antibiotics are given with caution.

The most commonly used :

1. Amoxicillin .The drug is a group of penicillins of broad spectrum. It is produced in granules, which are convenient for the preparation of a suspension.
2. Augmentin .The drug has an extended spectrum of action, is available as a powder for the preparation of a suspension. Contraindicated in children younger than 3 months.
3. Ceftriaxone .The drug group cephalosporins 3 generations. It is available as a solution for intramuscular and intravenous injections. Prohibited premature infants and newborns suffering from jaundice.
4. Cefiq .Antibacterial agent of a wide spectrum of action on the basis of trihydrate cefixime. It fights against all kinds of pathogenic bacteria, primarily prescribed by pediatricians for the treatment of intestinal disorders. It is produced in the form of a syrup or a powder used for the preparation of a suspension.
5. Enterofuril .Another antibiotic against intestinal infection for children, also featuring a wide range of effects. In the form of a suspension, it can be used to treat children between the ages of 4 weeks. Children older than 7 years of enterofuril is indicated in capsules.

It is important to remember that prescribing antibiotic therapy in childhood should be an exceptional and compulsory measure. You can use antibiotics only in cases when it is really necessary.

General rules for the administration of

You can not prescribe antibiotics against an intestinal infection yourself. For example, if the disease was caused by an E. coli, then you need to consider that this pathogen easily adapts to many antibacterial agents. If this happens, then in the future to eliminate the pathogenic microflora, which has formed resistance to medicines, it will be difficult.

The dosage and timing of the drug should be determined by the attending physician. It is not recommended to stop taking the antibiotic before the prescribed treatment period, if there is a significant improvement in the condition.

What else to remember in antibiotic therapy: :

1. It is forbidden to take antibiotics with a preventive purpose.
2. It is important to strictly adhere to the prescribed dosage and time intervals between doses of the drug.
3. To improve the resistance of immune defense and normalize the intestinal microflora, it is desirable to take biologics together with antibiotics, for example, Hilak Forte, Lactulose.
4. To avoid deterioration of health and general well-being, it is important to warn the doctor before prescribing the medication for the presence of somatic diseases and contraindications.
5. The child must completely drink the entire course of antibiotics. Parents should in no case change the treatment scheme, reducing or increasing the dosage of the drug or the intervals between its methods.
6. Antibiotics for intestinal infections in children and adults can only be taken after the confirmed bacterial nature of the disease.
7. For children, it is preferable to choose antibacterial agents in the form of syrup or in tablets, but not in injections.
8. In the course of treatment with antibiotics, it is advisable not to resort to the use of antipyretic agents, since these drugs can lubricate the clinical picture of the pathology.

What is the risk of taking antibiotics?

Treatment of intestinal infection with antibiotics inevitably leads to the fact that along with pathogenic microorganisms, mass destruction of useful intestinal microflora occurs. To prevent dysbacteriosis, simultaneously with antibacterial drugs, probiotics are prescribed - biological products that contain living bacteria of the intestinal microflora: for example, Linex, Bifidumbacterin, etc. More on how to restore the intestines after antibiotics →

Also the use of antibiotics for intestinal infection inChildren and adults have a negative impact on the liver, kidneys and blood. Therefore, treatment with such drugs uncontrolled highly is not recommended to prevent the development of side effects.

In addition, many pathogens are able to acquire resistance to medication, resulting in antibiotics becoming simply useless and dangerous to health.

Sometimes patients with the appearance of the first symptoms of intestinal infection receive antibiotics immediately, not wanting to understand the causes of the upset of the digestive tract, without resorting to a gastroenterologist.

Such actions destroy the microflora in your intestines, aggravating the course of the disease and causing serious damage to health. Patients lose the opportunity to get real medical help if they really have a dangerous disease not only from the digestive system, but also in any other organ.

The fact is that antibiotics, used once in the past mindlessly and uncontrollably, simply may not work in the body, since they have become resistant. Especially it is dangerous in the childhood and the elderly.

Author: Olga Rogozhkina, doctor,
specially for Moizhivot.ru

Useful video about the treatment of intestinal infection in children