Cystitis is a very common urological disease around the world. In the vast majority of cases, its development is based on bacterial damage to the internal epithelium of the bladder. Therefore, antibiotics for cystitis in women are widely used as the medicine of choice for this pathology.
Antibiotics for acute cystitis
Before deciding which antibiotic to prescribe, an experienced doctor must carefully study and examine the patient. To diagnose Acute Cystitis, it is recommended to perform blood and urine tests. But it is not always necessary to accurately determine the type of pathogen. Antibiotic therapy is initially carried out empirically, with preference given to broad-spectrum medications from the urological association's list of recommendations. It is important to note that only a doctor has the right to prescribe any antibacterial medication, and self-medication often leads to complications.
For a long time, the drug of choice was a combination of sulfonamide and a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor. But prolonged use of this drug led to an increase in the resistance of microorganisms to it and a decrease in the effectiveness of therapy. Therefore, modern European recommendations recommend using other antibacterial agents. First of all, they give preference to:
- fluoroquinolones;
- nitrofurans;
- phosphonic acid-based medicine.
Treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis, under the supervision of a urologist. A few days after starting therapy, the tests are repeated. The minimum duration of therapy with fluoroquinols is 3 days, nitrofurans - 7 days, and a phosphonic antibiotic is taken only once.
Antibiotics for chronic cystitis
When the infection progresses to the chronic stage, empirical antibiotic therapy is unacceptable. It is mandatory to carry out a microbiological examination of urine before prescribing antibacterial drugs. It also studies the resistance of a bacterial strain to specific therapeutic agents. This allows the attending physician to select antibiotics for chronic cystitis that will be most effective for a particular patient.
There is an opinion that this form of pathology is rarely an independent disease. Therefore, such a patient must undergo a comprehensive examination of not only the genitourinary organs, but also other body systems. Particular attention is paid to possible immunological disorders and foci of chronic infection in the body.
Fluoroquinolones or other reserve drugs from the list are predominantly prescribed - tetracyclines, third generation cephalosporins, macrolides. The course of its administration lasts at least 7 days. At the same time, it must be supplemented with several non-drug treatment methods:
- surgical intervention due to anatomical defects and/or the presence of foci of chronic infection;
- careful hygiene;
- selection of comfortable underwear;
- treatment of immunological disorders;
- temporary abstinence from sexual contact.
Prevention of cystitis recurrence
Antibiotics are used not only to treat the acute phase of cystitis, but also to prevent relapses of the disease. It is recommended for patients who have had more than 2 exacerbations during the last 6 months.
There are several regimens for taking antibacterial medications. The most common of these is the prescription of a long course of therapy in low doses during remission. Use one of the medications from the fluoroquinolone group (0. 2 g each), nitrofurans (0. 1 g each) or phosphonic antibiotic (3. 0 g each) every 10 days for 3 months.
If there is a link between recurrent cystitis and sexual intercourse, the doctor recommends taking one of the medications mentioned above after intercourse. In some cases, if symptoms appear, the patient can repeat the treatment on their own.
However, after its completion, it is necessary to take a urine test for bacteriological examination. It is also important to remember that the prevention of cystitis is effective only in the absence of anomalies in the development of the urinary tract and other infectious processes in the body.
Selected antibacterial drugs for cystitis
Phosphonic antibiotic
The product contains phosphonic acid and is widely used in the treatment of bacterial infections of the lower urinary tract. The drug has a strong bactericidal effect against E. coli, enterococci, staphylococci, Klebsiella, Proteus and other pathogens. Available in the form of powder sachets.
This remedy should be used once, 2 hours after meals, before bed. In this case, the contents of the bag must first be mixed with a small amount of water (about a third of a glass). A single dose for adults is 3. 0 g of the drug. In some cases, it is necessary to repeat the medication after 24 hours.
Phosphonic acid is practically not metabolized in the patient's body and most of it is excreted by the kidneys. In this case, in the urine, 4 to 6 hours after administration, a therapeutic concentration of the drug is reached, which persists for more than two days. In addition, the medicine has several advantages:
- single-use convenience;
- low rates of side effects when used;
- limited contraindications (severe renal failure, children under 5 years old);
- the drug is approved for use during pregnancy.
Nitrofurans
Nitrofurans, along with a phosphonic antibiotic, are the medications of choice for acute cystitis. They have a bactericidal effect on most pathogens of this pathology. At the same time, the resistance of bacteria to nitrofurans remains low. The disadvantages of this group of antimicrobial agents include the frequent occurrence of side effects:
- dyspeptic disorders (nausea, vomiting);
- abdominal pain of varying intensity;
- dizziness;
- somnolence;
- toxic effects on the liver and kidneys.
Take nitrofuran preparations 3 times a day, 100 mg. The duration of treatment is 5 to 7 days.
Fluoroquinolones
This group of antibacterial drugs is a derivative of nalidixic acid. Fluoroquinolones have a bactericidal effect against a wide range of bacteria. When used internally, they quickly enter the bloodstream and begin working within an hour. They are excreted from the body by the kidneys, which explains their widespread use in urology.
Fluoroquinolones are prohibited for use by children under 18 years of age, pregnant and lactating women. This is due to its negative impact on the formation of the musculoskeletal system. Contraindications also include a history of seizures, epilepsy and individual intolerance. In recent years, fluoroquinolones are taken mainly when phosphonic antibiotics and nitrofurans are ineffective, as well as in complicated forms of cystitis.
Fluoroquinolones should be taken twice a day for 3 days.
However, recently these drugs are practically not prescribed for cystitis due to the fact that bacteria have developed resistance to the fluoroquinolone group in 60% of cases.
Cephalosporins
Cephalosporins are beta-lactam antibiotics with a bactericidal effect. Today there are 5 generations of these drugs, but only the first three are used in urology. Cephalosporins are considered one of the safest medicines among antibacterial agents.
The only significant contraindication to its use is the presence of hypersensitivity to beta-lactams in the patient (various allergic reactions develop). This allows the use of cephalosporins in young children, pregnant women and the elderly.
First generation medicines are rarely used due to the resistance of microorganisms. The third generation drug is prescribed 0. 4 g 1 time or 0. 2 g 2 times a day for adults. Dosage for children depends on age and body weight.
Tetracyclines
This group of medicines belongs to synthetic antibiotics. Tetracyclines have a bacteriostatic effect, that is, they inhibit the proliferation of microorganisms. They are used today to treat cystitis when standard therapy with phosphonic antibiotics and nitrofurans has proven ineffective.
Among the disadvantages of tetracyclines, their side effects are often cited: nephrotoxicity, dyspepsia, increased intracranial pressure, dizziness, inhibition of hematopoiesis, toxic hepatitis and others. Furthermore, medications in this group disrupt the formation of bone tissue, which is why they should not be prescribed to children, pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Take 0. 1 g once or twice a day. It is recommended to additionally monitor kidney and liver function every 3 days of taking the medication.
Penicillins
Penicillin medications have limited use for cystitis. This is due to a decrease in effectiveness due to the development of resistance in microorganisms.
However, penicillins have high safety indicators, which allows their therapeutic use in children and pregnant women.
Side effects often include digestive disorders, which disappear quickly after stopping the medication. The duration of using penicillins for cystitis is up to 7 days.