Antibiotics For Bronchitis In Adults: Names Of Drugs, How To Take

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Antibiotics for bronchitis in adults

The content of the article:

Rules for prescribing antibiotics for bronchial inflammation
What antibiotics to take for bronchitis in adults
Antibiotics for bronchitis in pregnant women
Treatment complementary to antibiotic therapy for bronchitis

Traditional medicine
The reasons for the development of bronchitis
Types and signs of bronchitis
Video

Antibiotics for bronchitis in adults are prescribed in the case of a bacterial etiology of the disease, as well as with the addition of a secondary bacterial infection. Today, the pharmacological market has a fairly large selection of inexpensive and effective antibacterial drugs that are used for this disease.

Antibiotics are taken strictly as prescribed by the doctor, without deviating from the prescribed dosage

With the right approach, bronchitis in most cases can be cured in 1-2 weeks, but a residual cough can persist for another month.

Rules for prescribing antibiotics for bronchial inflammation

Self-prescription of antibacterial drugs for bronchitis is strictly contraindicated, since this can only worsen the patient's condition and lead to the progression of the disease (even if the most effective last drugs are used).

If you find signs of bronchitis, you should see your doctor. A qualified specialist will conduct an examination and provide a list of the most effective medicines for each specific case, and also determine how many days they should be used.

It is important to keep in mind that if the patient has taken 2-3 tablets of the prescribed drug, and his health has improved, the use of the medicine should not be stopped, the course of antibiotic therapy must be completely completed.

Before prescribing antibacterial drugs for chronic bronchitis, an antibioticogram is required to determine the sensitivity of the infectious agent. In acute bacterial bronchitis, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed.

Uncontrolled use of antibiotics can lead to the development of allergic reactions, dysbiosis, suppression of immunity, and the development of blood disorders. Bronchitis caused by fungi is quite rare, but in many cases it develops precisely against the background of irrational treatment with antibacterial agents.

What antibiotics to take for bronchitis in adults

Usually, antibiotics for bronchitis are prescribed in tablets, but in case of a severe course of the disease, the risk of developing pneumonia, injections (intramuscular injections) may be needed. At the same time, the antibiotic can be ready-to-use in ampoules, or it can be in the form of a powder in a vial, which is designed to prepare a solution for injection. In addition, antibiotics are available in powder form for suspensions. The commercial names of antibiotics for bronchitis in adults may differ, despite the same active ingredient in the composition.

The choice of a treatment regimen for bronchitis depends on the cause of the development of the disease, the patient's clinical signs, complications, contraindications and other individual parameters.

Treatment of bronchitis in adults with antibiotics is indicated if the cough persists for more than three weeks, prolonged subfebrile body temperature, the release of yellowish-green sputum mixed with blood or pus, with an unpleasant odor, with pronounced symptoms of intoxication, distinct wheezing and intercostal retraction during breathing.

The first line antibacterial drugs for bronchitis are penicillins. Plain penicillins are usually not used due to their lack of effectiveness. Antibiotics, which are part of the aminopenicillin group (broad-spectrum penicillins), are capable of destroying the bacterial cell wall, which leads to the death of the infectious agent. Frequently prescribed drugs in this group are Flemoxin, Amoxicillin. If microorganisms are resistant to drugs in this group or if there are contraindications, the patient is prescribed non-penicillin drugs (usually macrolides or fluoroquinolones).

Antibacterial drugs of the macrolide group disrupt the production of protein in the bacterial cell, as a result of which the microorganism loses its ability to reproduce. Of macrolides, Azithromycin, Roxithromycin are often prescribed.

Fluoroquinolones disrupt the synthesis of bacterial DNA, thereby causing their death. From this group of antibiotics, Levofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin are used sufficiently.

In some cases, antibiotics from the group of cephalosporins are used, which attack the cell wall of bacteria, which leads to their death. This group includes Ceftriaxone and Cefuroxime.

For uncomplicated chronic bronchitis, aminopenicillins or macrolides may be prescribed.

For a complicated chronic form of the disease, aminopenicillins, macrolides, cephalosporins are used.

In chronic bronchitis with concomitant diseases (diabetes mellitus, heart failure, renal failure), antibiotics from the fluoroquinolone group are usually used.

For obstructive bronchitis, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, aminopenicillins are used.

If the confirmed infectious agent is mycoplasma or chlamydia, macrolides, fluoroquinolones may be prescribed. Treatment of atypical bronchitis caused by mycoplasma or chlamydia (even with the use of strong new generation antibiotics that are effective against these pathogens) can take several months.

If drug therapy is prescribed without isolating the pathogen and conducting an antibioticogram, preference is given to drugs with a wide spectrum of action. In such cases, Augmentin is used, which belongs to the protected penicillin group, or Azithromycin from the macrolide group. At the risk of bronchitis becoming pneumonia (especially in the elderly), Erythromycin, Amoxicillin, Josamycin, Spiramycin may be prescribed.

Antibiotics for bronchitis in pregnant women

In the first trimester of pregnancy, the use of antibiotics is undesirable, however, in the case of severe bronchitis and a high risk of complications, aminopenicillins may be prescribed. In the II and III trimesters of pregnancy, antibacterial drugs from the group of cephalosporins, macrolides can be used. With acute bronchitis in women during pregnancy, it is convenient to use local antibacterial agents in the form of inhalation. They act directly in the respiratory tract and do not cross the placenta.

It is better to use topical antibacterial drugs during pregnancy.

Lack of treatment for bronchitis during pregnancy, if antibiotics are needed, can cause more harm to the health of the woman and the fetus than the use of good modern antibacterial drugs.

Treatment complementary to antibiotic therapy for bronchitis

Symptomatic treatment for acute bronchitis may include taking antipyretics, antitussives, expectorants, mucolytic and antiallergic drugs.

Inhalation with anti-inflammatory and mucolytic agents is effective. An abundant drinking regimen is required, this helps the separation and excretion of sputum, enhances the effect of mucolytics.

In addition, breathing exercises and massage are recommended.

In some cases, warming compresses can have a good effect, however, in acute bronchitis and elevated body temperature, they are contraindicated, so it is better not to use them without consulting a doctor.

At the initial stage of the disease, bed rest is indicated. The room where the patient with bronchitis is located should be often ventilated and the air humidified.

Traditional medicine

Hot drinks with the addition of berries, rich in vitamin C, citrus fruits, as well as tea from peppermint, linden, pine buds are recommended.

Also, for bronchitis, you can use folk remedies that have antiseptic properties: garlic, onion, horseradish root, black radish, pomegranate, raspberry, viburnum, honey, mummy, medicinal chamomile, calendula, sage.

Here are some popular recipes:

Onion and honey cough medicine: chop one onion, add honey to the resulting mass in a 3: 1 ratio of onion to honey. The mixture is taken in a tablespoon 3 times a day, 20-30 minutes after meals.
Remedy from milk and sage for dry cough with bronchitis. For its preparation, a tablespoon of dry sage herb is poured with a glass of milk and boiled for 10 minutes. The tool should be cooled, filtered, drunk warm, 0.5 cups before bedtime.
It helps well with bronchitis a decoction of plantain, coltsfoot, licorice root, violets, which are mixed in equal quantities, after which a tablespoon of the resulting mixture is poured with a glass of boiling water and kept on low heat for 20 minutes. Take 5 tablespoons 5-6 times a day.

The reasons for the development of bronchitis

Bronchitis is one of the most common diseases of the respiratory system, which affects all age groups of the population. Bronchitis can be both infectious and non-infectious etiology. The causative agents of the disease can be viruses, bacteria, microscopic fungi. Also, inflammation of the bronchial mucosa can develop as a result of inhalation of chemical vapors, cigarette smoke during active or passive smoking. Acute bronchitis often occurs against the background of infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Chronic bronchitis, as a rule, is the result of improper treatment of the acute form.

Before prescribing antibiotics, it is necessary to ascertain the bacterial nature of bronchitis.

During pregnancy, bronchitis also develops quite often, which is associated with a weakening of the immune system during this period.

Types and signs of bronchitis

In acute bronchitis, the patient develops a chest cough, which is usually dry at the initial stage of the disease, and then becomes moist. In some patients, there is no cough, which can be observed at the onset of the disease, in chronic bronchitis without exacerbations, in the early stages of bronchiolitis. At the initial stage of the disease, nasal congestion, discharge from the nose, sore throat and sore throat, discomfort along the trachea are often noted. In acute bronchitis, the body temperature may slightly rise, painful sensations appear in the chest.

In chronic bronchitis, structural changes in the bronchial mucosa occur. This form of the disease is characterized by the alternation of periods of exacerbation and remission. During an exacerbation, the patient develops a strong cough with sputum production, weakness, fatigue, increased sweating, and the temperature may rise to subfebrile values. The separated sputum is mucous or mucopurulent, sometimes mixed with blood.

Bronchitis can be obstructive and non-obstructive (simple). For non-obstructive, periodic cough with sputum production is characteristic. With obstructive bronchitis, asthma attacks occur associated with blockage (obstruction) of the bronchi. In this case, there is difficulty in inhaling, the patient's breathing becomes noisy, accompanied by whistling sounds. The cough usually gets worse at night, leading to sleep disturbance. After coughing up sputum, the condition improves.

For bronchitis of chlamydial or mycoplasma etiology, a slow protracted course with frequent relapses is characteristic. The patient complains of severe cough, muscle pain, fever.