Antibiotics in the treatment of pneumonia in adults

In-depth study of the scientists of the mechanisms of development of pneumonias, enabling factors and consequences allowed to reveal the increased virulence (degree of pain) of microbial pathogens and the emergence of new strains of already known pathogens. On the other hand, an increase in resistance of pathogens to antibiotics and the role of risk factors for adverse outcome in certain individuals who are forced to look for new approaches to the treatment of pneumonia.

Pathogenetic principles of therapy

Pathogenic flora is the "unsterile" flora of the upper respiratory tract: nasopharynx, nose, oral cavity. In normal conditions it poses no threat to human health, however, if malfunction of the immune system may be activated and become the causative agent of pneumonia.

A modern approach to the treatment of pneumonia involves a whole range of General, medication and physiotherapy methods.

Normal flora of the body

Common activities include thorough compliance with prescribed medical regime and special balanced diet. The special point here is the increased consumption of warm vitamin-enriched drink.

Medical measures consist of making preparations for various purposes:

• Causal (drugs acting directly on the pathogen),
• Pathogenic (drugs aimed at the normalization of metabolism, increase of nonspecific resistance and immunological reactivity of the organism),
• Symptomatic (drugs to eliminate unpleasant and painful symptoms).

Pathogenetic therapy in the treatment of pneumonia is most popular in complicated and protracted course of the disease. Correct medication can affect the mechanism of the origin of the pathology, suppressing it in the Bud. To the means of pathogenetic therapy are:

• Immunomodulators: Interferon, Simazin, Levamisole, Diutsifon, Timalin. Drugs of this group are appointed by the prolonged and severe course of the disease,
• Antiviral: Ribavirin, Interferon. Are first-line drugs when the viral nature of the disease. Additionally, there are pulmonary with the addition of financialsamurai substances such as vegetable (onion and garlic juice) and mineral (sodium chloride solution) origin,
• Bronchodilators and mucolytics: NAC, Bromhexine, Ambroxol, berotek, Atrovent, Theopek. Drugs are used to restore bronchial patency and liquefy mucous secretion.

Of particular importance is the use of vitamin complexes, natural bio-stimulants and adaptogens: Siberian ginseng extract, means on the basis of ginseng and Schizandra, aloe.

The recovery time

The duration of treatment depends on the form of the disease, the individual characteristics of the health and correctness of the chosen tactics of treatment in each case.

The average time of treatment in the case of typical community-acquired pneumonia range from 1 to three weeks (depending on the severity of the initial symptoms).

In cases with nosocomial or atypical form of the disease the recovery time increase on the average in 2 times are 7-14 days mild disease, and in severe course of the disease – 14-56 days. The duration of illness may increase if patients are people with weakened immune systems, young children or the elderly.

To a large extent the length of pneumonia depends on the timing of the start of treatment. There is a very insidious form of the disease, occurring without fever. The absence of the main symptom of the illness often leads to delaying the start of therapy and thus increase the recovery time.

If you experiences the following symptoms, should immediately consult the doctor and undergo an examination (x-ray and blood test):

• Strong cough,
• Shortness of breath, inability to take a deep breath, pale skin,
• Deterioration after suffering a cold,
• The duration of colds more than 7 days.

Precautions for people who have had pneumonia

Great importance is also the correct treatment from the very beginning of the disease. Here plays a crucial role in the study of bacterial microflora, allows to determine the pathogen of pneumonia and to choose the most effective medications (particularly antibiotics).

Depending on the severity of treatment of pneumonia are shownoutpatient or inpatient, but regardless of this treatment should come only from a doctor. If the disease occurs without complications, the average taken antibiotics in 3-5 days after normalization of temperature.

Competent application

Along with pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy the use of antibiotics should be timely and reasonable:

• In the beginning of the disease, to identify the causative agent, used drugs broad-spectrum (Ceftriaxone, Suprax) to saturate the blood of a patient an antibiotic to the desired concentration,
• If you suspect atypical pneumonia (caused by Mycoplasma, chlamydia, etc.) are assigned to specialised drugs (Sumamed, Clarithromycin). However, drugs with a broad spectrum are not cancelled,
• Combination therapy of 2 drugs – the most commonly used treatment pneumonia,
• The same scheme of treatment of the disease is used in the propagation of inflammation in more than one segment,
• Antibiotic therapy is effective only in complex use of symptomatic drugs, immunomodulators, vitamins, adaptogens and physiotherapy.

The use of antipyretics is allowed only if t above +38C. When subfebrile t the body responds to the increased accelerated metabolism, seeking to quickly and efficiently repair the damage to the lung tissue.

General principles of assigning

Etiotropic treatment, which is based on the use of antibiotics, is crucial for effective and quick action on pathogenic microflora. The use of these drugs is in accordance with the following rules:

• The use of the drug in the very early stages after diagnosis,
• The first-line drugs are the antibiotics of penicillin group,
• After determining the causative agent for severe treatment of the disease to the primary designated drug adds more powerful. However, in the most severe cases when treatment in a hospital it is possible to use two drugs from the start. Recommended combinations: penicillin with monomitsin, erythromycin, streptomycin, tetracycline with monomitsin, oleandomycin,
• Do not use more than 2 drugs at the same time, the adoption of low doses of the drug (this can lead to resistance of germs),
• Prolonged use of antibiotics (more than 7-10 days) contributes to the development of dysbiosis, so when protracted treatment is recommended probiotics,
• If the medication lasts more than 3 weeks, is assigned a 7-day break, with subsequent use of drugs or sulfonamides nitrofuran,
• Even after symptoms have taken a full course without interrupting treatment. At the same time, the ineffectiveness of the drug during the 2 days necessary to replace the drug.

One of the main principles of antibiotic therapy is the choice of the dosage form that is directly linked to a continuous supply of medications. The most relevant issue for outpatient treatment. Injections provide a more rapid delivery of drugs in inflammation, while providing a more gentle effect on the digestive tract. At the same time, oral drugs more available. Sometimes prescribed combination of drugs – 2 times injection, 2 tablets or capsules. The main thing is continuous to ensure the required concentration of antibiotic in the blood.

Adult

The basis for antibacterial treatment in adults is the most effective drug given the stage of the disease. Thus equally important is the individual's state of health and tolerance to a certain drug:

• Avelox with Doxycycline or Amoksiklava. Prescribed for non-severe course of community-acquired pneumonia for adults up to 60 years, with no chronic somatic diseases,
• Avelox with Ceftriaxone. Appoint in the absence of shortness of breath and feeling short of breath persons after 60 years, or in the presence of chronic diseases for persons under 60 years,
• Or Tavanic levofloxacin with Ceftriaxone or Cefepime. Assigned with the average severity of the disease and are used mainly in the treatment in the hospital with a combination of intravenous and intramuscular introduction,
• With Sumamed or Fortum and Tavanic, Meronem with Targocid or Sumamed. Used to treat the most severe forms of pneumonia in intensive care units.

Antibiotic therapy should be supervised by a qualified person, delays in reception or the dosage of the drug can have negative consequences from the transfer of disease to a more serious stage before the complications and the emergence of resistant type of microorganism, immune to the antibiotic.

Children

Treatment of pneumonia in children has its own nuances when choosing an effective antibiotic therapy, and it is directly related to their age, because with the growth of the child changes the spectrum of causative agents of pneumonia:

• Neonates – E. coli, Klebsiella, Streptococcus group b, Listeria,
• Have 1-3 babies is Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus coli, Staphylococcus aureus,
• At the age of 3 months.to 5 years – hemophilic Bacillus, and pneumococcus,
• In children older than 5 years a range of microbial pathogens almost no different from the reasons for disease in adults: Mycoplasma, pneumococci, Chlamydophila.

The occurrence of pneumonia is always dangerous to life and should be treated only in a hospital. The appearance of the disease in older children, treatment depends on the severity of the disease and is conducted under the supervision of a pediatrician.

Classification of drugs

When selecting medicines, your doctor may prescribe medications from several groups, the most commonly used in the treatment of pneumonia of different etiology:

• Penicillins: Augmentin, Ampicillin, Amoxiclav, Carbenicillin,
• Cephalosporins: Cephalexin, Cefuroxime, Ceftriaxone,
• Macrolides: Erythromycin, Azithromycin, Clarithromycin,
• Aminoglycosides: Gentamicin, Tobramycin, Streptomycin,
• Fluoroquinolones: Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, Difloxacin.

Each group of drugs has certain qualitative characteristics: the duration and force of impact, the wide range of action, side effects. To match all these qualities with the health of the patient can be a doctor.

Summary

Pneumonia is one of the most dangerous lung diseases with a high mortality rate and a wide age distribution. The effectiveness of treatment of pneumonia in critically depend on the timeliness of treatment and the correct choice of drugs.

Antibiotic therapy is the main tactic to suppress the infection in its earliest stages, and efficiency of it directly depends on the correct approach to selection of drugs. But self-medication for pneumonia, as well as the arbitrary choice of an antibiotic can seriously compromise the immune response and make the body vulnerable to microbial attack.

In addition to antibiotic treatment pneumonia also lends itself well to alternative treatment through traditional medicine. It is important to remember that folk remedies should not form the basis for the treatment of pneumonia, because it is used as restorative practices. As for rehabilitation after pneumonia, it is a complex of measures for recovery of the respiratory system, which can be found here.