Showing posts with label Broad Spectrum Antibiotics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broad Spectrum Antibiotics. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Broad Spectrum Antibiotics

Broad Spectrum Antibiotics

Broad spectrum antibiotics are specially designed antibiotics to protect against a wide variety of bacteria. They come in handy if a patient needs to be quickly cured of an infection or if the doctor is unable to diagnose the exact kind of bacteria causing the disease. Read on to know pros and cons as well as common kinds of these antibiotics.




What Are Broad Spectrum Antibiotics?
In general, any chemical made by one microorganism that is used to destroy or hinder the spread of other microorganisms is known as an antibiotic. Broad spectrum antibiotics are chemical substances that protect against many different kinds of microorganisms (gram positive and gram negative bacteria) that may cause disease and infection.


Uses

  • They may be prescribed in the case where the bacteria causing infection in the patient has developed resistance to narrow spectrum drugs actually used to kill them.
  • Infection in patients is not always caused by one kind of microorganism; a whole group of a range of different bacteria may be causing the infection, which is commonly referred to as a super infection. If such a case arises, the doctor may prescribe several different antibiotics to target the microorganisms, or simply a broad spectrum antibiotic.
  • Broad spectrum antibiotics are also administered when doctors are unsure about the exact nature of disease causing microorganism, and do not wish to delay treatment in case the disease turns out to be fatal.

Advantages
There are two main advantages of using broad spectrum antibiotics.



  • Broad spectrum antibiotics are developed to target and protect against a whole range of different bacteria, not just one specific kind of bacteria.
  • Even when doctors are still waiting to confirm their diagnosis about which organism exactly is causing the infection, broad spectrum antibiotics can be administered. This ensures that treatment is started immediately and is not delayed, and can potentially prevent the infection from turning deadly.

Disadvantages
Despite the advantages discussed above, the use of broad spectrum antibiotics may not be preferred by all due to two key disadvantages.



  • If broad spectrum antibiotics are administered to a patient, there is a greater chance of him developing resistance to the drugs used.
  • Studies have shown that if broad spectrum antibiotics are used to treat a child who is less than one year of age, then he is effectively made more vulnerable to developing breathing problems, such as childhood Asthma.

Examples of Broad Spectrum Antibiotics

































Used for


Side Effects


Cautions


Tetracycline





Sexually transmitted diseases (STD)


Urinary Tract Infection


Skin infections


Respiratory infections


Strep infections


Acne


Malaria


Leprosy


Arthritis


Lyme Disease


Dizziness


Diarrhea


Cramps in the stomach


Sensitivity to light


Changes in eyesight and skin tone


Headache


Nausea


Vomiting


Try to use sunscreen and avoid sunlight as much as possible.


React with other drugs, such as penicillin, tretinoin, acitretin, strontium and isotretinoin, as well as birth control pills.


Ciprofloxacin





Bacterial infections


Urinary tract infection


Syphilis


Anthrax


Diarrhea


Coughing


Nausea


Vomiting


Runny nose


Pain


Headaches


Photosensitivity


Do not take it simultaneously with tizanidine.


Side effects will occur if drugs containing theophylline and caffeine are taken while taking ciprofloxacin.


Levofloxacin





Bacterial infections


Anthrax


Nausea


Vomiting


Dizziness


Headache


Abdominal pain


Diarrhea


Nervousness


Lethargy


Trouble sleeping.


Allergic reactions


This drug should not be administered if the patient is already taking thioridazine, dronedarone or mesoridazine.


Penicillin





Bacterial infections


Chlamydia infections


Typhoid Fever


Leptospirosis


Gas Gangrene


Lyme disease


Helicobacter pylori


Peptic Ulcers


Sore mouth or tongue


Headache


Vaginal itching and discharge


Diarrhea


White patches on the mouth and tongue


The drug is known to have reactions with birth control pills, methotrexate, venlafaxine, cyclosporine and vecuronium.


Cephalexin





Bacterial infections


Pneumonia


Bronchitis


Laryngitis


Tonsillitis


Urinary tract infections


Middle Ear Infections


Endocarditis


Diarrhea


Rashes


Swellings


Headache


Dizziness


Stomachache


Nausea


Vomiting


The antibiotic may react with metformin and cholestyramine.


Care should be taken when the antibiotic is administered to patients who are allergic to penicillin or those suffering from kidney disease.