Antimicrobial drugs: review, application and reviews. The most effective antimicrobial agent

More than half of existing diseases are caused by pathogenic viruses or bacteria that penetrate the body and disrupt the constancy of its internal environment. To treat such infections, various antimicrobial drugs are prescribed, which are the largest group of drugs. They cause the death of fungi, bacteria, viruses, and also suppress the growth and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. Antimicrobial agents, unlike antibacterial agents, prevent the development of a wider range of harmful organisms.

Types of drugs and their features

Antimicrobial drugs have a number of common specific characteristics and are divided into several types depending on:

Depending on the area of application (antiseptic, disinfectant)
Directions of action (antifungal, antiviral)
Method of production (antibiotics, synthetic agents, natural medicines).

Before prescribing antibiotics, the sensitivity of the microflora to the drug is checked and the causative agent of the infection is identified. It is advisable to start treatment as early as possible, until the immune system is completely destroyed and the number of harmful bacteria in the body is not so large. Often, such drugs are prescribed for various skin diseases caused by staphylococci and streptococci, as well as for fever, headache, and chills.

Synthetic drugs are usually prescribed in cases of intolerance to antibiotics or lack of microflora response to them. They are highly active antimicrobial drugs and are often used for infections of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and genitourinary system.
Natural remedies help to avoid certain diseases and are used for preventive purposes. These are infusions of herbs, berries, honey and more.

Choice of drug

When choosing a medicine for microbes, test data, the patient’s age, and tolerability of the drug components are taken into account. During the entire course of treatment, the dynamics of infection symptoms, as well as the occurrence of undesirable consequences, are monitored. These may be allergic reactions in the form of urticaria or dermatitis, as well as dysbacteriosis, renal failure, cholestasis, gastritis, colitis. Instructions for use contain the entire list of side effects for each product. The doctor prescribes the appropriate doses and method of administration of the medicine, which eliminate or minimize the risk of negative effects on the patient’s body.
Despite the fact that each instruction for use contains information about the indications for use and the required doses of the medicine, you should not self-medicate. If you choose the wrong antimicrobial agents, the number of bacteria in the body will only increase, and allergic reactions and dysbacteriosis may occur.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are multifunctional drugs that help quickly cope with many pathogenic organisms. New generation drugs have a wide range of applications and are also highly effective.

How do broad spectrum antibiotics work?

Broad spectrum antibiotics- effective antibacterial agents, which can only be used after consulting a doctor. Such drugs can quickly overcome pathogenic microorganisms, regardless of their type. The advantage of these drugs is that they are equally effective in treating gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Gram-positive organisms often cause infectious diseases. They often cause diseases of the ears, nasopharynx and the entire respiratory system. Such ailments can be caused by enterococcal or staphylococcal infections, and in rare cases, listeria, clostridia or corynebacteria. Gram-negative organisms are much less common. Most often they cause abnormalities in the functioning of the intestines or genitourinary system. Indications for the use of new generation antibiotics may be:

diagnosis of superinfections - diseases that are caused by several pathogens at once;
long-term ineffectiveness of therapy with other drugs.

The main advantage of modern antibiotics of the latest generation is their wide spectrum of action. Now there is no need to accurately determine the type of pathogen; it is enough to identify the clinical picture of the disease.

What are broad spectrum antibiotics?

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are universal bactericidal drugs that will help get rid of many diseases. Most often they are prescribed for the treatment of various infections, the causative agent of which remains unknown. They are also prescribed if a person has become infected with a fast-growing and dangerous virus. Such drugs are indicated as prophylaxis after major surgical interventions. Remember that not all cheap drugs are so bad.

Group	A drug	Mechanism of action
Tetracyclines	Doxycycline, Tetracycline	Kills bacteria and has an antiviral effect
Levomycetin	Moxifloxacin, Levofloxacin	Antimicrobial, antifungal and antibactericidal
Semi-synthetic penicillins	Carbenicillin, Ticarcillin	Inhibits the synthesis of the pathogen cell wall
Cephalosporins	Ceftriaxone	Changes the activity of a virus that has entered the RNA
Rifampicins	streptomycin, amphenicols	Interferes with protein production
Carbapenems	Meropenem, Meropenem, Cyronem, Imipenem	Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, prolonged action

Modern penicillins

Antibiotics from the penicillin group are drugs based on clavulanic acid and amoxicillin. Representatives of the new, 4, 5, 6 generations can be called Augmentin, Amoxiclav, Solutab. They help to quickly cope with any infectious processes, relieve pyelonephritis, dental abscess, otitis media, sinusitis and much more.

Penicillins are effective drugs that help quickly suppress the activity of many infections and viruses.

Typically, penicillin antibiotics are prescribed for the following diseases:

sinusitis;
whooping cough;
otitis;
sore throat;
bronchitis;
inflammation of the lungs.

The effect of penicillin antibiotics may develop more slowly. However, they immediately stop the reproduction and growth of pathogenic bacteria in the body. Keep in mind that such medications can be taken no more than once a quarter.

Levomycetin is an essential broad-spectrum antibiotic

Levomycetins are popular antibiotics that help quickly cope with infectious processes. The first representatives of this group had a rather meager spectrum of action; they eliminated only a narrow range of pathogenic organisms. With the development of medicine, such drugs have become more and more effective, and their spectrum of action has expanded.

Despite their wide spectrum of action, antibiotics show the greatest effectiveness in the fight against gram-positive bacteria.

Modern chloramphenicol 2, 3 and 4 generations have an extremely broad effect. The most popular drugs are Moxifloxacin, Levofloxacin and Gatifloxacin.

With their help, you will be able to quickly overcome:

gram-positive organisms: staphylococci, streptococci;
gram-negative organisms: Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Protea, gonorrhea, Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
V intracellular pathogens: mycoplasma, chlamydia, legionella.

It should be noted that many drugs are contraindicated for children under 18 years of age. Also, elderly people should take such medications with extreme caution, since the components of the medications can damage the structure of the tendons. Be sure to keep a list of antibiotics from this group.

Antibiotics Rifampicin

Rifampicin antibiotics inhibit protein synthesis in pathogenic organisms, resulting in a powerful bactericidal effect. They are most effective against sensitive microorganisms.

The first drug of this group was synthesized in the middle of the last century. Today this drug is actively used to treat tuberculosis.

Rifampicins are a group of antibiotics that can rid a person of the tuberculosis bacillus.

To date, 4 generations of drugs have been developed. They have a wide spectrum of action, are quite safe and do not cause side effects. Such agents help to quickly suppress the activity of Klebsiella, Moraxella, Salmonella and other pathogenic organisms. However, they have the greatest activity against streptococci and staphylococci. Each such drug has its own characteristics, which must be taken into account during treatment.

As a rule, many people are not even aware of the existence of such a group of antibiotics as carbapenems. People usually encounter them extremely rarely, because they are used only to treat severe infections that threaten human life.

The most popular drugs in this group can be called Imipenem, Meropenem, Ertapenem, Invanz. Also included in this group are Meronem, Meropenem, Syronem. Indications for the use of such drugs are nosocomial infections, such as:

intra-abdominal infections;
abscess, pneumonia, pleural empyema;
complications of urinary tract infections;
sepsis and pelvic infections;
endocarditis;
severe wounds;
joint and bone infections;
infections of soft tissues and skin.
Bacterial infections and meningitis.

It should be taken into account that carbapenem antibiotics are administered only intravenously using a special dispenser. It is strictly forbidden to use such products if you are allergic or intolerant to the components of the drug, as well as if you are sensitive to cilastatin. It is very important that during therapy the patient constantly informs his doctor about his health and any changes in the body.

Tetracyclines - time-tested antibiotics

Tetracycline antibiotics- broad-spectrum drugs. They are based on a four-cycle system. They do not have a beta-lactam ring, so they are not exposed to the pathogenic influence of beta-lactamase. Such drugs are prescribed for therapy:

listeria, staphylococci, streptococci, clostridia, actinomycetes;
gonorrhea, salmonella, whooping cough, syphilis, shigella, E. coli and Klebsiella.

The advantage of broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotics over their analogues is their ability to penetrate deep into the cell affected by the bacteria. It is for this reason that this remedy is actively prescribed to people with chlamydia, fungal infections, and ureaplasma. It should be noted that tetracyclines are absolutely ineffective in the fight against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The most popular drugs are Doxycycline and Tetracycline.

Cephalosporins- one of the broad groups of broad-spectrum antibiotics. There are 4 generations of such drugs. The first three were used only for parenteral and oral administration. They gained their popularity due to their low toxicity and high efficiency. Such medications help cope with pneumonia, infections of the urinary tract, pelvis, skin and soft tissues. The products are also effective in the fight against STDs.

These antibiotics are available in tablet form. The medicine should be taken strictly with meals, and should be washed down with plenty of clean water. For the entire course of treatment, try to strictly adhere to your daily routine. It is strictly forbidden to skip taking pills. Treatment is not completed after the first signs of relief. Popular drugs in this group are Cefixime, Ceftibuten, Cefuroxime. They are quite inexpensive.

Antibiotics for children

A special group of new generation antibiotics consists of children's drugs. They are prescribed only after 3 days of treatment with antiviral drugs have not brought any effect. Remember that only the attending physician can prescribe such medications. Among the safest children's antibiotics of the latest generation are::

Children can use many antibiotics, but the dose of the active substance for them should be less than for adults. The advantage is that they are also available as suspensions for internal use and ampoules for intramuscular use.

Treatment of bacterial infections today is impossible without the use of antibiotics. Microorganisms tend to become resistant to chemical compounds over time, and old drugs are often ineffective. Therefore, pharmaceutical laboratories are constantly looking for new formulas. In many cases, infectious disease specialists prefer to use new generation broad-spectrum antibiotics, the list of which includes drugs with different active ingredients.

The principle of action of the drugs

Antibiotics act only on bacterial cells and are not able to kill viral particles.

Based on their spectrum of action, these drugs are divided into two large groups:

narrowly targeted, coping with a limited number of pathogens;
broad spectrum of action, fighting different groups of pathogens.

In the case where the pathogen is known exactly, antibiotics of the first group can be used. If the infection is complex and combined, or the pathogen has not been identified in the laboratory, drugs of the second group are used.

Based on the principle of action, antibiotics can also be divided into two groups:

bactericides - drugs that kill bacterial cells;
bacteriostatics are drugs that stop the proliferation of microorganisms, but are not able to kill them.

Bacteriostatics are safer for the body, therefore, for mild forms of infections, preference is given to this group of antibiotics. They allow you to temporarily restrain the growth of bacteria and wait for them to die on their own. Severe infections are treated with bactericidal drugs.

List of new generation broad-spectrum antibiotics

The division of antibiotics into generations is heterogeneous. For example, cephalosporin drugs and fluoroquinolones are divided into 4 generations, macrolides and aminoglycosides - into 3:

Group of drugs	Generations of drugs	Drug names
Cephalosporins	I	"Cefazolin" "Cephalexin"
	II	"Cefuroxime" "Cefaclor"
	III	"Cefotaxime" "Cefixime"
	IV	"Cefepime" "Cefpir"
Macrolides	I	"Erythromycin"
	II	"Flurithromycin" "Clarithromycin" "Roxithromycin" "Midecamycin"
	III	"Azithromycin"
Fluoroquinolones	I	Oxolinic acid
	II	"Ofloxacin"
	III	"Levofloxacin"
	IV	"Moxifloxacin" "Gemifloxacin" "Gatifloxacin"
Aminoglycosides	I	"Streptomycin"
	II	"Gentamicin"
	III	"Amikacin" "Netilmicin" "Framycetin"

Unlike older drugs, new generation antibiotics affect beneficial flora much less, are absorbed faster, and have a less toxic effect on the liver. They are able to quickly accumulate the active substance in the tissues, due to which the frequency of doses is reduced and the intervals between them increase.

What medications should I take depending on the disease?

Often the same broad-spectrum drug is prescribed for different diseases. But this does not mean that you can do without preliminary diagnosis. Only a correct diagnosis allows you to adequately select an antibiotic.

Treatment of bronchitis

Bronchitis is a common infectious and inflammatory disease that can lead to serious complications. The following medications may be prescribed to treat bronchitis:

Drug name		Contraindications	Dosage
"Sumamed"		age up to 6 months;	Children over 3 years old – 2 tablets of 125 mg per day. Children under 3 years old – 2.5 to 5 ml of suspension per day.
"Avelox"	A group of fluoroquinolones, the active substance is Moxifloxacin.	pregnancy and lactation; age under 18 years; heart rhythm disturbances; severe liver diseases.	1 tablet 400 mg per day
"Gatispan"	A group of fluoroquinolones, the active substance is Gatifloxacin.	pregnancy and lactation; age under 18 years; diabetes; heart rhythm disturbances; convulsions.	1 tablet 400 mg per day
"Flemoxin Solutab"		lymphocytic leukemia; gastrointestinal pathologies; pregnancy and lactation; Infectious mononucleosis.

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Along with antibiotics, mucolytic and anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the treatment of bronchitis.

For pneumonia

Pneumonia should never be treated independently at home. This disease requires mandatory hospitalization and serious therapy with intramuscular or intravenous antibiotics.

The following injection drugs can be used to treat pneumonia in a hospital:

"Ticarcillin";
"Carbenicillin";
"Cefepime";
"Meropenem".

In some cases, antibiotics are also prescribed in tablets. These may be drugs:

"Tigeron";
"Gatispan";
"Sumamed";
"Avelox".

The dosage and frequency of doses in this case are determined individually, based on the patient’s condition and therapeutic strategy.

Antibiotics for sinusitis

The decision to prescribe antibiotics for the treatment of sinusitis is made by an ENT doctor. Therapy with these drugs is mandatory if purulent discharge from the sinuses and intense headaches are observed:

Drug name	Group and active substance	Contraindications	Dosage
"AzitRus"	A group of macrolides, the active ingredient is Azithromycin.	severe liver dysfunction; age up to 3 years; individual intolerance.	Adults and children over 12 years old – 1 capsule or tablet of 500 mg per day. Children over 3 years old – 10 mg per 1 kg of weight per day.
"Faktiv"	A group of fluoroquinolones, the active substance is Gemifloxacin.	pregnancy and lactation; age under 18 years; heart rhythm disturbances; severe liver diseases.	1 tablet 320 mg per day
"Flemoclav Solutab"	Penicillin group, active ingredient – Amoxicillin.	lymphocytic leukemia; gastrointestinal pathologies; pregnancy and lactation; age up to 3 years; Infectious mononucleosis.	Adults and children over 12 years old – 1 tablet of 500 mg 3 times a day. Children under 12 years old – 25 mg per 1 kg of weight per day.

Before prescribing antibiotics, an ENT doctor usually gives a referral for a bacterial culture and an antibiogram to determine the type of pathogen and its sensitivity to a particular active substance.

For sore throat

In everyday life, sore throat is commonly called acute tonsillitis - inflammation of the tonsils caused by viruses or bacteria. The bacterial form of sore throat is caused by streptococci or staphylococci, and this disease can only be treated with antibiotics:

Drug name	Group and active substance	Contraindications	Dosage
"Macropen"	A group of macrolides, the active substance is Midecamycin.	liver diseases; age up to 3 years; individual intolerance.	Adults and children weighing over 30 kg – 1 tablet of 400 mg 3 times a day.
"Rulid"	A group of macrolides, the active ingredient is Roxithromycin.	age up to 2 months; pregnancy and lactation.	Adults and children weighing over 40 kg – 2 tablets of 150 mg 1-2 times a day. In other cases, the dosage is calculated individually.
"Flemoxin Solutab"	Penicillin group, active ingredient – Amoxicillin.	lymphocytic leukemia; gastrointestinal pathologies; pregnancy and lactation; Infectious mononucleosis.	Adults – 1 tablet of 500 mg 2 times a day. Children over 10 years old – 2 tablets of 250 mg 2 times a day. Children over 3 years old – 1 tablet 250 mg 3 times a day. Children under 3 years old – 1 tablet 125 mg 3 times a day.

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It is important to understand that if acute tonsillitis is not bacterial, but viral in nature, it is useless to treat it with antibiotics. Only a doctor can distinguish between these two forms of the disease, so you should not take any medications without his consultation.

Colds and flu

Respiratory infections, which in everyday life are called colds, as well as influenza are caused by viruses. Therefore, antibiotics are used in their treatment only in one case: if the disease becomes complicated and a bacterial infection joins the viral infection.

In such situations, therapy is usually started with penicillin antibiotics:

"Flemoxin Solutab";
"Flemoclav Solutab".

If no improvement is observed after 72 hours after starting to take these drugs, new generation macrolides are added to therapy:

"Sumamed";
"Rulid";
"AzitRus".

The regimen for taking antibiotics for the treatment of respiratory infections is standard, but medical supervision is also necessary in this case.

Infections of the genitourinary system

Urogenital infections can be caused by pathogens of different nature - viruses, fungi, bacteria, protozoa. Therefore, it makes sense to start treatment only after a thorough laboratory diagnosis and determination of the type of pathogen.

In mild cases, the infection can be removed from the urinary tract using the following medications:

“Furadonin” – 2 mg per 1 kg of weight 3 times a day;
“Furazolidone” – 2 tablets 0.05 g 4 times a day;
“Palin” – 1 capsule 2 times a day.

In more complex situations, when pathogens are highly resistant (resistant) to chemical influences, broad-spectrum antibiotics can be prescribed:

Drug name	Group and active substance	Contraindications	Dosage
"Abaktal"	A group of fluoroquinolones, the active substance is Pefloxacin.	pregnancy and lactation; age under 18 years; hemolytic anemia; individual intolerance.	1 tablet 400 mg 1-2 times a day.
"Monural"	A derivative of phosphonic acid, the active substance is Fosfomycin.	age up to 5 years; individual intolerance; severe renal failure.	Single dose – dissolve 3 g of powder in 50 g of water and take on an empty stomach before bed.
"Cefixime"	A group of cephalosporins, the active substance is Cefixime.	individual intolerance.	Adults and children over 12 years old – 1 tablet of 400 mg 1 time per day. Children under 12 years old – 8 mg per 1 kg of weight 1 time per day.

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Along with antibiotics, in the treatment of genitourinary infections, plenty of fluids and diuretics are prescribed. In severe cases, injections of the drug Amikacin are advisable.

Antifungal drugs

To treat fungal infections, drugs with fungistatic or fungicidal effects are used. They differ from the drugs listed above and are classified into a separate class, within which there are three groups:

As in the treatment of bacterial infections, therapy for fungal diseases requires accurate diagnosis of the pathogen and strict supervision by a specialist.

For eye disease

Antibiotics for the treatment of eye diseases are available in the form of ointments or drops. They are prescribed if the ophthalmologist has diagnosed conjunctivitis, blepharitis, meibomitis, keratitis and a number of other infections.

Most often, therapy is carried out using the following drugs:

"Tsipromed" - drops containing Ciprofloxacin;
“Albucid” – drops with sulfacetamide;
"Dilaterol" - drops based on tobramycin;
“Tobrex” is an analogue of “Dilaterol” in the form of an ointment;
"Kolbiocin" is a multicomponent ointment containing tetracycline, chloramphenicol and sodium colistimethate.

A specific drug is prescribed based on the diagnosis, severity of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient.

Inexpensive new generation antibiotics

The cost of new generation antibiotics is never low, so you can save money only by buying inexpensive analogues. They are produced on the basis of the same active ingredients, however, the degree of chemical purification of such drugs may be lower, and the auxiliary substances for their production are the cheapest.

You can replace some expensive antibiotics using the following table:

Another way to save money is to buy older antibiotics, not the latest generation.

For example, in many cases the following proven antibacterial drugs can help out:

"Erythromycin";
"Ceftriaxone";
"Bicillin";
"Cefazolin";
"Ampicillin."

If more than 72 hours have passed after starting treatment with inexpensive antibiotics, and no improvement is observed, you should urgently consult a doctor and change the drug.

Can it be used during pregnancy?

Antibiotics during pregnancy are prescribed by doctors only in emergency cases and after a thorough analysis of possible risks.

But even in such situations, drugs of the following groups are not used:

all fluoroquinolones;
macrolides based on roxithromycin, clarithromycin, midecamycin;
all aminoglycosides.

Only the attending physician can decide on the advisability of prescribing antibiotics during pregnancy. Self-administration of any medications, even relatively safe ones and those belonging to the new generation, is strictly prohibited.

As is known, bacteria were the first to populate the Earth. There are millions of them, they are everywhere: in water, air, soil, inside and around each of us. “Good bacteria” help us, but “bad” ones often cause quite serious diseases. Today, everyone, even those far from medicine, has very specific ideas about antibiotics, and is familiar with at least several drug names. The term “broad-spectrum antibiotics” has also been heard. Let's figure out what it is and start from the very beginning.

A little history

The first antibiotic was obtained in 1928 by the Englishman Alexander Fleming. It was Penicillin, but it turned out to be rapidly degrading, and did not even pass the expert commission at the medical club. Only 10 years later, Americans Howard Flory and Ernst Chain isolated the antibiotic as a separate environmentally resistant species, and immediately tested it on the wounded in hospitals of the Second World War.

Beginning in 1943, penicillin was put into mass production, and 2 years later Flory and Chain were awarded the Nobel Prize.

Antibiotics are a group of substances (semi-synthetic, animal or plant) that can destroy bacteria, microorganisms, and fungi.

Antibiotics are conventionally divided into bactericidal and bacteriostatic. The first are guys with a lethal disposition, they immediately destroy the pest without unnecessary lyricism, the second are intellectuals, they have a scientific and long-term approach - they block the enemy’s ability to reproduce.

Some antibiotics are more effective against one type of bacteria, while others are more effective against another. But there are such “fighters” for our health who are capable of destroying completely different microbes. These are the same broad-spectrum antibiotics.

It is not always clear which bacteria, fungi or opportunistic flora caused the disease, and there is no time for laboratory tests: the child needs emergency care. In such cases, doctors prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics. For example, with meningitis in a toddler, the issue of life and death can be resolved in a matter of hours, and laboratory samples will be ready only in 2-3 days. While doctors are figuring out what caused a serious illness in a baby, broad-spectrum antibiotics immediately come out to fight unknown pests.

Types of broad spectrum antibiotics

Penicillins

They have a mainly bactericidal effect. They destroy the cell walls of bacteria. Effectively and quickly destroy staphylococci, pathogens of gonorrhea, E. coli, salmonella, and whooping cough. The most notable representatives of the series are “Amoxicillin” and “Ampicillin”.

Cephalosporins

These antibiotics are different from the previous group by being more resistant to those enzymes that microbes produce in their defense. Where the penicillin fighter dies, the cephalosporin fighter will survive and finish the job. The most famous antibiotics of the series that are used in pediatrics are Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, Cephalexin, etc.

Carbapenems

These are relatively new antibiotics. Such drugs are used mainly for severe conditions and hospital-acquired infections. In ordinary life we rarely see these names. And this is good. But in fairness, I will call carbapanem antibiotics by name: “Meropenem”, “Ertapenem”, etc.

Tetracyclines

These antibiotics do an excellent job against various bacteria and even some protozoa. But they are not warriors against mold fungi and acid-fast bacteria. The most famous representatives of this series are “Tetracycline” and “Doxycycline”.

Monobactams

These antibiotics have a rather narrow “profile”. They are usually used to combat gram-negative pests - for infections of the skin, soft tissues, musculoskeletal system, and also for sespis. The most famous representative of the group, used in pediatrics, is Aztreonam.

Aminoglycosides

These “universal soldiers” are resistant not only to different types of bacteria, but also to other antibiotics. You are probably familiar with their names - “Streptomycin”, “Gentamicin”.

Amphelicols

Broad-spectrum antibiotics (ASSA) on the pharmacy counter have several pharmacological forms:

drops;
powders for suspensions;
pills;
dry substance for injections - intramuscular and intravenous injections.

But there are no antibiotics in the form of suppositories or syrup.

Benefit or harm?

There are definitely advantages: Broad-spectrum antibiotics quickly penetrate the body’s tissues and accumulate where they are most needed – at the site of the infection. Compared to other antibiotics (narrow focus), they are safer and less likely to cause allergic reactions. Manufacturers claim that they do not need to be taken simultaneously with drugs for the prevention of dysbiosis, although this point is questionable. And finally, broad-spectrum antibiotics are quite compatible with other medications.

But any antibiotic, even a low-toxic one of the latest generation, does not have intelligence and a “friend or foe” recognition system, and therefore effectively destroys both harmful and beneficial microorganisms. Therefore, a rare course of antibiotic treatment does not end with dysbacteriosis or thrush (in girls).

And also any antibiotic weakens the human immune system. Think for yourself, why should the immune system try and fight the infection if the “stray guys” will quickly do everything for it?

Well, another fly in the ointment. Bacteria do not sleep and do not give up without a fight, and therefore their resistance to antibiotics is constantly increasing. The more often a person uses antibiotics, the more resistant pathogens become to them. Recently, Russians have been eating antibiotics so often and completely uncontrollably, with or without reason, that scientists and the Ministry of Health have sounded the alarm. And now, or rather from January 1, 2017, all antibiotics in Russian pharmacies without exception are sold strictly according to prescriptions. This is a forced measure that will not allow bacteria with their significantly increased resistance to win this war for the life of mankind.

Conditions of appointment

Consider situations in which a doctor may prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics for a child. Contrary to popular belief that influenza and ARVI are easy to defeat thanks to antibiotics (so, according to VTsIOM, 46% of Russians believe), in the case of diseases caused by viruses, antibiotics are just completely powerless. These illnesses need to be treated with antiviral drugs.

And “universal” antibiotics will be prescribed to your child in the following cases:

High body temperature of more than 39 degrees (more than 38 degrees - for babies under one year old), caused by a bacterial infection,
Bronchitis,
Otitis,
Sinusitis,
Angina,
Tonsillitis and paratonsillitis,
Whooping cough,
Pneumonia,
Meningitis,
Severe intestinal infection,
Postoperative period (for prevention).

Let me emphasize once again that antibiotics are not prescribed for influenza, ARVI, chickenpox, measles and hepatitis, as well as rubella and herpes. The exception is when a child has a bacterial infection in addition to a viral infection; this usually becomes clear 4-5 days after the onset of the disease.

If the child, despite the prescribed antiviral treatment, does not feel better, one may suspect that bacteria are to blame. Doctors must confirm this by taking blood and swabs from the baby for analysis.

List of the most common drugs

Amoxicillin

An antibiotic of the penicillin group that successfully defeats staphylococci, streptococci, and E. coli. But some bacteria secrete a special enzyme that destroys the antibiotic. This drug may be prescribed to your child for colds, pharyngitis, tracheitis, and pneumonia. Sore throat and otitis media, cystitis and pyelonephritis cannot resist it. This antibiotic is also widely used to treat dysentery and salmonellosis. It is contraindicated in children with allergies to flowers (hay fever) and liver failure. All forms of this medicine are taken exclusively orally. For children from birth to 4 years - 5 years - it is preferable to give an antibiotic in suspension. The dosage and regimen are prescribed by the doctor, based on the age and weight of the baby, as well as the severity of the tiny disease. The starting price of the medicine in pharmacies is from 70 rubles.

Augmentin

This is the same “Amoxicillin”, only enhanced with clavulanic acid, which protects the antibiotic from enzymes produced by bacteria that are harmful to it. The antibiotic is available in powder for suspension and powder for injection. Tablet form - intended for adults. Approved for use even by newborns, however, in a dosage determined by the doctor and exclusively for vital indications. For babies over 2 months old, the dosage is calculated based on body weight. Children aged 2 to 3 years are given 5-7 ml (depending on the severity of the disease), from 3 years to 7 years - 5-10 ml, children aged 7 to 12 years - a single dose of 10-20 ml (depending on the severity of the diagnosis). The cost of the drug in pharmacies starts from 150 rubles for a suspension and 260 rubles for tablets.

Amoxiclav

This is another follower of Amoxicillin, also enhanced with clavulanic acid. According to reviews from parents and doctors, this is a very good children's antibiotic, which is easy for the baby to drink (in the form of a suspension) and helps quite quickly. Also The drug is approved for use by children under 1 year of age. The price of the drug is from 360 rubles for tablets, from 400 rubles for soluble tablets and from 150 rubles for powder for diluting the suspension.

Zinacef

This is a cephalosporin antibiotic, a second generation drug. It is very effective for respiratory infections (bronchitis, lung abscess, pneumonia), and has proven itself as a treatment for otitis media, tonsillitis, furunculosis, meningitis, as well as joint diseases, including after injuries and surgeries. Release form: powder for injection. The doctor should calculate the pediatric dosage based on the patient’s age and weight. Approved for use in children under 1 year of age for special indications. Price in pharmacies - from 200 rubles per bottle.

Among people who deal with medicine exclusively as patients, there is a widespread misconception that antibiotics are a panacea against colds, and in case of severe illness one cannot do without taking them. This is not entirely true. Indeed, antibiotics are powerful drugs that can effectively eliminate the growth of pathogens, but in most cases of colds they are useless.

The most powerful antibiotics

The concept of a “strong antibiotic” is more complex than it seems at first glance. The fact is that antibiotics are classified into groups depending on their chemical structure. Among this group of drugs there are both drugs synthesized in laboratories and those obtained from natural raw materials, but most often there is an intermediate option - a natural substance stabilized by laboratory methods.

Each of these substances is effective against a specific number of bacteria. The most powerful antibiotics are broad-spectrum drugs that are effective against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. However, the use of such drugs is not always justified - as a rule, broad-spectrum antibiotics are highly toxic to the body and negatively affect its microflora.

The most powerful antibiotic in the world is Cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin drug. Its high efficiency is ensured not only due to the wide range of pathogens affected by the substance, but also due to the novelty of the compound. It is administered in injections, because It is produced in the form of an active substance for dilution.

The fact is that bacteria are rapidly mutating creatures that can change the configuration of organisms of subsequent generations in such a way that drugs will lose their effectiveness in the fight against such mutated bacteria. Therefore, antibiotics with the latest structure will always be more effective than previous drugs, with rare exceptions.

Strong antibiotics for colds

Treatment is justified only if, after a viral infection, the patient develops a bacterial complication of the disease. This often happens due to decreased immunity. A viral infection weakens the body and makes it more susceptible to infection, and even a small strain of the pathogen is enough to cause bacterial infection.

Often in such situations, even the strongest antibiotic may not help the patient recover, because it is necessary to carry out antiviral therapy in addition to it. Antibiotics do not help in case of uncomplicated viral infection. If ARVI was diagnosed, i.e. so-called “cold”, then treatment is symptomatic.

Viruses, unlike bacteria, do not have specific treatments. The engine of the healing process is the strength of the natural human immune system. Therefore, when treating viral infections, it is important to stay at home, maintain bed rest and avoid potential situations of infection, i.e. public places.

Antibiotics in tablets

The strongest antibiotics in tablets can belong to different groups of drugs. Tablets, i.e. oral form of the drug, are the most convenient for use. They do not require sterility and special skills; the patient can take them on their own while on an outpatient basis. However, they can not always be used, for example, it is undesirable to take pills for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

We list some of the strongest today:

Avelox;
Cefixime;
Amoxiclav;
Rulid;
Unidox Solutab;
Sumamed.

When choosing a medicine, you should not be guided only by the well-known name of the antibiotic. The selection of tablets should be done by a doctor, based on the results of the analysis, the patient's condition, the susceptibility of a particular antibiotic strain to a particular drug, as well as other indicators.

Consider the main groups of the latest antibiotics, which are more widely used than all the previous ones, due to their high rates.

Cephalosporin antibiotics are the most powerful broad-spectrum drugs. These drugs have gone through several generations throughout their development:

I generation. Cefazolin, Cefadroxil, Cefalexin - drugs that work against staphylococci.
II generation. Cefaclor, Cefuroxime, Cefamandol are drugs that can eliminate Escherichia and Haemophilus influenzae.
III generation. Ceftibuten, Ceftazidime, Cefotaxime, Ceftriaxone - are used in the treatment of pneumonia and infections of the pelvic organs, incl. pyelonephritis.
IV generation. Cefepime. An effective but toxic drug from the entire group. Cefepime-based drugs may have side effects such as nephrotoxicity, i.e. a negative effect on the kidneys, which can lead to a decrease in their function up to failure.

In general, cephalosporins are one of the safest antibiotics with minimal side effects, but they are still serious drugs that, without proper attention to the rules for their use, can harm rather than benefit health.

Macrolides

These drugs are prescribed for damage to the body associated with gram-positive bacteria. They are also considered broad-spectrum antibiotics because... within the group of Gram-positive bacteria, they are effective against several groups of pathogens.

We list the popular drugs of the group:

Azithromycin;
Josamycin;
Oleandomycin;
Erythromycin.

Macrolides act bacteriostatically, i.e. stop the reproduction of bacteria, allowing the natural forces of the body to destroy pathogens. This principle of action is the least toxic to humans and their normal microflora, and at the same time highly effective. Macrolides do not have the disadvantages of relatively low tissue concentrations. The medicine accumulates quickly and is retained in the cells for a long time, which allows you to use the minimum effective dose, avoiding intoxication of the body.

Fluoroquinolones

– antibiotics, the positive feature of which is rapid permeability into tissue and prolonged high concentration in the body. They are represented by two generations of substances:

I generation. Effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a wide range of gram-negative bacteria.
II generation. Second-generation fluoroquinolones are also effective against many representatives of gram-negative bacteria, but are not effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Doctors prescribe drugs from this group for a wide variety of infectious diseases: chlamydia, tuberculosis, purulent tissue lesions, etc.

Penicillins

Penicillins are the very first antibacterial drugs discovered by mankind. Penicillins are recognized as the strongest - they have great power in the fight against pathogens and act on a wide range of bacteria. These drugs are well excreted and are therefore considered to have low toxicity. However, today, despite the fact that these are very strong antibiotics, many bacteria have learned to produce the enzyme penicillase, as a result of which drugs of this group do not act on them.

Common drugs in this group are:

Amoxicillin;
Ampiox;
Oxacillin;
Ampicillin.

Some doctors still use drugs from this group in their daily practice, but most doctors are inclined to believe that it makes no sense to prescribe penicillins now when there are drugs that are much less toxic to the patient. The spread of penicillins in our country is associated with two factors: the “old school” of doctors who are not accustomed to trusting new drugs, and the low cost of penicillins in comparison with modern groups of drugs.

Thus, today's pharmaceutical market offers several options for groups of powerful antibiotics. Each of them, to a greater or lesser extent, covers a wide range of bacteria against which it acts.

To ensure that the treatment is safe and effective, the patient undergoes a PCR test, during which laboratory assistants will experimentally find out which group of medications is best suited for treatment.

For colds, it is unjustified to use broad-spectrum drugs; as a rule, they are too toxic. Such medications are necessary for complex bacterial infections, when two or more types of bacteria act simultaneously.