Antibiotics for bacterial infection: list with names, doctor's prescription, composition and contraindications

Antibiotics - a large group of drugs, each of which is characterized by its spectrum of action, indications for use. All antibiotics prescribed for bacterial infections can affect microorganisms bactericidal or bacteriostatic. In the first case, bacteria die, and in the second, microorganisms lose the ability to multiply. The absence of offspring leads to the death of pathogens and their complete disappearance.

Antibiotics used for bacterial infections can be introduced into the body in a variety of ways. Drugs are produced for all possible routes of administration. There are tablets and capsules for oral administration, solutions for intravenous, intramuscular administration, sprays, ointments, suppositories.

Features of the reception

The use of antibiotics for bacterial infections should be performed according to the following rules:

1. Antibiotics should be prescribed by a doctor. The choice of drug depends on the nature and severity of the pathology.
2. Antimicrobials are not used to treat viral infections.
3. The effectiveness of antibiotic therapy is evaluated in the first three days of treatment. If it has the desired effect, then the course continues. Otherwise, the doctor decides on the replacement of the medication.
4. While taking the drug, side effects may occur in the form of nausea, the appearance of an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth. These manifestations do not always require discontinuation of the drug. Often enough to adjust the dose to reduce the side effect of the drug. The exact measures to neutralize the side effects of the drug are determined by the attending physician.
5. As a result of taking diarrhea may occur. If you have loose stools, you should immediately consult a doctor. Do not try to independently treat diarrhea that has arisen while taking an antimicrobial drug.
6. It is forbidden to change the dosage yourself. In small doses, drugs can be dangerous, as microorganisms develop resistance to them.
7. The drug should be used strictly at a certain time in order to maintain the desired level of concentration of a substance in the blood.
8. Antibiotics should be used strictly either before meals, or after - depending on the type of drug. Otherwise, the medicine will be worse absorbed. Features of the reception must be clarified by the attending physician.

Antibiotic classification

Over the past hundred years, a huge number of antibiotics have been created. With a bacterial infection, a variety of drugs are used. Some of the antibiotics alone are only introduced into clinical practice, while some are no longer used.

All antimicrobials are divided into the following types:

1. By origin. Allocate natural, semi-synthetic, synthetic drugs. Natural get from the cells of plants, animals. Semi-synthetic - by modifying natural molecules, and synthetic ones are obtained in laboratory conditions.
2. Division by direction of action. Antibiotics can be used for intestinal, neurosurgical infections, pathologies of the respiratory, urinary tract, reproductive system, skin, soft tissues, etc.

Resistance

As a result of taking antibiotics for bacterial infections in children and adults, resistance can occur. The main mechanism for the development of this phenomenon is the genetic mutation that occurs in bacteria. Bacteria receive information on genetic resistance and transfer this information to future generations. As a result, the metabolism of microorganisms changes, and immunity to a certain substance appears. The target for antibiotic exposure disappears.

Resistance arises due to the irregular use of drugs, contrary to the instructions. The cause may also be an independent treatment, without consulting a doctor.

Antibiotic action

With a bacterial or viral infection, antibiotics are prescribed, therefore, clearly. They have no effect on viruses, but can be prescribed when they join a viral bacterial infection.

Antibiotics are divided into two large groups:

1. Bacteriostatic. They prevent the propagation of pathogenic microorganisms.
2. Bactericidal. Drugs that cause the death of pathogenic microorganisms.

The mechanism of biological action of both groups is based on the following:

• cell wall synthesis is inhibited - penicillins, cephalosporins, phosphomycin, glycopeptides, carbopenems, monobactams act in a similar way on bacteria;
• acts overwhelmingly on the functions of DNA: this includes drugs of the trimethoprim groups, nitroimidazoles, ansamycins, nitrofurans;
• suppression of protein synthesis on ribosomes: macrolides, lincosamines, chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines;
• membrane dysfunction: imidazoles, polymyxins, gramicidins, polyene preparations.

Groups of antibacterial drugs

Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, which must be selected individually for each patient.

The classification of antibiotics is based on the chemical structure. So, one group includes drugs that have a similar formula, but differ in some fragments.

Penicillin group

This is one of the first groups of drugs derived from penicillin. This group includes: natural benzylpenicillin produced by fungi; semi-synthetic preparations "Methicillin", "Nafcillin"; synthetic medicines, such as Carbenicillin, Ticarcillin.

This group includes other penicillin medicines: Amoxicillin, Oxacillin, Ampicillin, Amoxiclav. All of them have a wide spectrum of action, are safe for use by children and pregnant women, but often cause allergic reactions.

Cephalosporin group

Cephalosporin antibiotics for bacterial infections in children and adults are used in cases where the penicillin series does not give the desired result or patients have an allergic reaction.

Cephalosporins are produced by fungi and are capable of killing microorganisms. There are several generations of antibacterial drugs:

• first generation: "Cephalexin", "Cefradin", "Cefazolin";
• second generation: “Cefsulodin”, “Cefamandol”, “Cefuroxime”;
• third generation: “Cefotaxime”, “Cefodizim”, “Ceftazidime”;
• fourth generation: “Cefpirome”.

The difference between generations is in the spectrum of action. Later drugs have a wide spectrum of action and are considered more effective.

Macrolides

With a bacterial infection, antibiotics from the macrolide group are prescribed. They are considered the safest means that even pregnant women can use. Representatives of the group are: Azithromycin, Josamycin, Leukomycin, Rovamycin.

The advantage of group medicines is the ability to penetrate the cells of the human body. Because of this specificity, macrolides are used to treat mycoplasmosis, chlamydia.

Aminoglycosides

A bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics with a spectrum of action that allows you to destroy pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, preparations of the aminoglycoside group are effective against gram-negative aerobic bacteria. These medicines are toxic and can lead to serious complications. They are prescribed in rare cases for the treatment of furunculosis, infection of the genitourinary system. The drugs of the group include Gentamicin, Amikacin, Kanamycin.

Tetracycline group

Antibiotic treatment of bacterial infection in children and adults involves the use of a tetracycline group. It includes synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs, such as Tetracycline, Minocycline, Doxycycline. They are effective against most pathogens.

The disadvantage of drugs is that they can cause resistance in bacteria. Moreover, if this occurs, then the microorganisms will be resistant to all drugs in the group.

Fluoroquinolones

This group includes fully synthetic drugs that do not have a natural analogue. All fluoroquinolones are divided into two groups. The first includes drugs such as Pefloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin. The second group includes Levofloxacin, Moxifloxacin.

Fluoroquinolones are most often used to treat respiratory tract, ENT organs.

Other groups

And what antibiotics for a bacterial infection can still be prescribed? In addition to the above, there are the following groups:

1. Lincosamides. It includes the natural antibiotic Linkomycin and its derivative drug Clindamycin. The effect achieved depends on the concentration of the drug.
2. Carbapenems. Modern drugs that affect various microorganisms. Drugs in this group belong to reserve antibiotics and are used in complex cases when other medicines are ineffective. Representatives of the group are Imipenem, Ertapenem.
3. In a separate group, antibiotics are selected that affect the tubercle bacillus. These include: "Rifampicin", "Isoniazid" and others.
4. For the treatment of mycoses, antifungal antibacterial agents are used: Nystatin, Fluconazole.

Application

When choosing a therapy, the doctor must determine which antibiotics treat the bacterial infection most effectively. After this, the form of the drug is determined, the application regimen. The main methods of drug administration include:

1. Oral method. It involves taking antibiotics by mouth. Take the drug in the form of tablets, capsules, syrup, powder. The frequency of administration depends on the drug. For example, penicillins are used four times a day, one tablet, and Azithromycin, one tablet per day. Each drug has its own intake: during or after meals, before meals. The effectiveness of the drug, the severity of side effects depends on the correct use. Children are most often prescribed antibiotics in the form of a syrup. This is because it is easier for them to take a liquid dosage form than tablets or capsules.
2. Injection The drug is most active when administered intramuscularly or intravenously. The disadvantage of this method is the pain of the injection. This method of administration is used for severe and moderate disease.
3. Local use. Antibiotics are available in the form of ointments, gels, creams, intended for local use. This method is used to deliver the active substance directly to the site of inflammation on the skin or mucous membranes. Local remedies are used in ophthalmology, dermatology.

What antibiotics to take with a bacterial infection for a particular patient, only the doctor decides. It also determines the method of application, taking into account the level of absorption, the general condition of the patient. Some medicines are administered in only one way.

Drug sensitivity

Every organism gets used to any conditions, and microorganisms are no exception. With prolonged exposure to antimicrobials, bacteria develop resistance. Because of this feature, the concept of sustainability was introduced.

The choice of drug is based on scientists' knowledge about the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics. In ideal conditions, doctors select drugs that affect those bacteria that led to the pathology. However, in order to conduct an analysis to identify the sensitivity of the pathogen to the drug, it takes several days, and during this time the infection can lead to serious complication, even death. In order not to lose time, doctors select the drug taking into account the epidemiological situation in the region. Broad-spectrum drugs are commonly used.

As soon as the result of the analysis is ready and the pathogen becomes known, the doctor can change the drug to a more effective one. Also, drug replacement is performed in the absence of effect on the third day of therapy.

Drug effectiveness

Is it necessary to drink antibiotics for bacterial infections and do they always help? For bacterial and fungal infections, taking an antimicrobial is mandatory. This is the only way to get rid of pathogenic microorganisms.

There are bacteria that peacefully exist in the human body. They are considered opportunistic. But when certain conditions are created, these "harmless" bacteria become the cause of the disease. An example is the penetration of E. coli into the prostate through the urinary tract.

Alcohol and antibiotics

With the simultaneous use of alcohol and antibiotics, the load on the liver increases. The presence in the blood of an antibacterial drug and an alcohol-containing drink leads to a strong load on the liver - it does not have time to neutralize the alcohol. As a result, the likelihood of developing unpleasant symptoms, such as nausea, intestinal upset, and vomiting, is increased.

Some drugs at the chemical level interact with alcohol. These include Metronidazole, Levomycetin, and others. The simultaneous use of alcohol and similar antibiotics can lead to convulsions, cause shortness of breath and even lead to death.