eli5: why do some antibiotics require a 10-day course instead of one big dose?

by Sophie Koss 5 min read

How long is too long for antibiotics to be prescribed?

ELI5: Why do some antibiotics require a 10-day course instead of one big dose? Biology. Close. 7. Posted by 4 years ago. Archived. ELI5: Why do some antibiotics require a 10-day course instead of one big dose? Biology. I've got a nasty infection and the doctor put me on three different antibiotics; one was a shot and two are pills. What's the ...

Do you have to take all the antibiotics you’re prescribed?

There's some medication where we do give a higher dose to begin with to bring the medication quickly into a therapeutic range, this is called a loading dose. Doxycycline and pivmecillinam are two antibiotics that require this, although not all antibiotics do. Some drugs like digoxin can be loaded in emergency uses but not in regular practice

How long do antibiotics take to work?

Be Antibiotics Aware is a national effort to help fight antibiotic resistance and improve antibiotic prescribing and use. Antibiotics can save lives, but any time antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance. In U.S. doctors’ offices and emergency departments, at least 28% of ...

Why do doctors prescribe 10 day runs for antibiotics?

Feb 02, 2022 · Antibiotics begin to work right after you start taking them. However, you might not feel better for 2 to 3 days. How quickly you get better after …

What is the name of the bacteria that drops by uninvited?

Sometimes, though, you get a rough customer, something like Streptococcus, Staphy lococcus or E. coli. It drops by uninvited, stirs things up and leaves you a feverish, swollen wreck. Whether it’s a boil, a bladder infection or a case of the clap, antibiotics such as amoxicillin are the weapons of choice for slowing or killing such bothersome ...

Is it safe to have bacteria in your home?

Most bacteria are harmless, even helpful; you wouldn’t hesitate to invite one into your home or digestive tract. In fact, several kinds already live there, symbiotically helping you digest food, destroying disease-causing cells and providing your body with the vitamins it requires.

Can antibiotics save lives?

Antibiotics can save lives, but any time antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance.

What is the purpose of "Be Antibiotics Aware"?

Be Antibiotics Aware is a national effort to help fight antibiotic resistance and improve antibiotic prescribing and use. Antibiotics can save lives, but any time antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance.

What is the CDC's initiative?

CDC’s Initiative to Fight Antibiotic Resistance. CDC is working to combat the threat of antibiotic resistance through its Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative.

Why are antibiotics less effective than they once were?

However, some antibiotics are now less useful than they once were due to an increase in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria can no longer be controlled or killed by certain antibiotics.

How long does it take for antibiotics to work?

How quickly you get better after antibiotic treatment varies. It also depends on the type of infection you’re treating. Most antibiotics should be taken for 7 to 14 days.

What is the purpose of antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medications used to fight infections caused by bacteria. They’re also called antibacterials. They treat infections by killing or decreasing the growth of bacteria. The first modern-day antibiotic was used in 1936. Before antibiotics, 30 percent.

When were antibiotics first used?

They’re also called antibacterials. They treat infections by killing or decreasing the growth of bacteria. The first modern-day antibiotic was used in 1936. Before antibiotics, 30 percent. of all deaths were caused by bacterial infections. Thanks to antibiotics, previously fatal infections are curable.

Can antibiotics cure infections?

Thanks to antibiotics, previously fatal infections are curable. Today, antibiotics are still powerful, life-saving medications for people with certain serious infections. They can also prevent less-serious infections from becoming serious. There are many classes of antibiotics. Certain types of antibiotics work best for specific types ...

What are the different types of antibiotics?

Antibiotics come in many forms, including: tablets. capsules. liquids. creams. ointments. Most antibiotics are only available with a prescription from your doctor.

How long does it take for a person to feel better after antibiotics?

It also depends on the type of infection you’re treating. Most antibiotics should be taken for 7 to 14 days. In some cases, shorter treatments work just as well.

Is it better to take a shorter antibiotic course or a longer one?

Recent clinical trials show that even for some serious infections, shorter antibiotic courses can be as effective as conventional, longer ones. The general rule is: the shorter the course, the lower the risk of side effects or resistance.

Is the rate of antibiotic resistance proportional to the amount of antibiotics used?

The right dose. The rate of antibiotic resistance (in a community, a hospital or a whole country) is proportional to the total amount of antibiotics used. The relationship is complex but the dangerous increase in multidrug-resistant bacteria has led some experts to predict the “end of the antibiotic era”. This is the downside of 75 years of ...

Can antibiotics cause diarrhoea?

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria include Clostridium difficile, which can be carried harmlessly in the bowel until a course of antibiotics kills off its competition. This allows it to multiply and produce toxins, potentially causing life-threatening diarrhoea.

Why are antibiotics misused?

Antibiotics have saved countless millions of lives, but have been often misused because of the misguided belief that they are harmless. The most important – but hardly novel – message for doctors is “don’t prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily, especially for colds and flu, ...

Do antibiotics work for viral infections?

The most important – but hardly novel – message for doctors is “don’t prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily, especially for colds and flu, which are nearly always viral”. Antibiotics simply don’t work in acute upper respiratory infections.

Do antibiotics cause allergies?

Antibiotics are generally benign but they all cause allergies and other rare side effects in a small proportion of people. And there’s a universal effect that’s less well known – even a very short course will kill many of the friendly bacteria in the gut.

ElI5- what did Nietzsche mean when he said "When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you."

I always interpreted it as if you look at something long enough, you'll become that thing. For example, if I see drama and chaos everywhere I go, that means I'm a chaotic person. Whereas if I saw peace and serenity everywhere I go, I will always have peace and serenity.

ELI5: Why are the seasons not centered around the summer and winter solstice?

If the summer and winter solstice are the longest and shortest days when the earth gets the most and the least amount of sunshine, why do these times mark the BEGINNING of summer and winter, and not the very center, with them being the peak of the summer and peak of winter with temperatures returning back towards the middle on either side of those dates?.

ELI5: Why does plaque seem to build up faster on the outside-facing side of teeth rather than inside?

If anything, the outside of teeth probably gets brushed more often/effectively?

ELI5 What does Neosporin do for an open wound?

I whacked my face into the concrete not too long ago and when I got to the store the clerk said I would definitely need some Neosporin.

Why do we use intravenous antibiotics?

Answer: We use intravenous antibiotics for very severe infections, such as sepsis because intravenous antibiotics reach tissues faster and at higher concentrations than oral antibiotics. We may also use intravenous antibiotics for infections in parts of the body where penetration of oral antibiotics is less effective, ...

Do antibiotics kill viruses?

Probably the most frequent case is with viral illnesses, such as colds. Antibiotics kill bacteria only and don’t have any effect against viruses.

Can you get an infection from IV antibiotics?

A: Most patients who require IV antibiotics have had some previous medical problem or hospitalization that has made them more prone to infection. Sometimes, though, people get a deep or serious infection from bacteria living on their own skin.

Why do hospitals have a higher rate of resistant bacteria?

A: In general, health care facilities (including hospitals and nursing facilities) have a much higher rate of resistant bacteria, simply because they care for people with the most severe infections who have received antibiotics frequently.

What does it mean to be antimicrobial steward?

Can you explain what this means? A: Antimicrobial stewardship means using antibiotics in a judicious way in order to avoid the emergence of resistant bacteria.

Can you get colonized with MRSA?

Many people may be “colonized” with MRSA and not know it and may never become sick. However, it is also possible for MRSA to cause an actual infection, especially in patients with other medical problems or those undergoing surgery or other procedures.

How long should an antibiotic be effective?

If the drug manufacturers know the antibiotic is effective in 48 hours then a recommended five-day treatment would keep everybody happy, including their shareholders. Allan Wilson, Pharmacist, Comrie, Perthshire. AS A pharmacist, Allan Wilson should know better if he is suggesting that antibiotic courses are too long.

Can you treat a bacterial infection with the same antibiotic?

As the surviving bacteria reproduce, the resulting infection would not be treatable with the same antibiotic. If the infection is passed on to someone else, their infection will also be resistant to the antibiotic. Jim Lodge, London SE4.

What is the danger of antibiotics?

THE danger to the individual is that the infection will recur, and will be more difficult to treat when it does. The danger to the rest of us is that the general population of the infecting bacterium will become more resistant to the antibiotic concerned. If you fail to complete a course of antibiotics, some of the bacteria causing ...

What happens if you fail to take antibiotics?

If you fail to complete a course of antibiotics, some of the bacteria causing the infection may survive - and these will be the ones with the greatest resistance to the antibiotic.

Where do antibiotics not penetrate?

These include the fact that there are areas of the body where antibiotics do not achieve good penetration (e.g. the lungs and sinuses). The quantity of infective material that may have built up in the body, and from which re-infection may occur, must also be taken into account.

Can antibiotics cure viral infections?

Antibiotics will not cure viral infections. So, prescribing antibiotics without properly ascertaining the cause of infection is indeed an equally real danger.

Why did Nikhil Ravishanker decide to go to a doctor?

This debate is meaningless in light of the fact that decision to go to a doctor was that of the patient and he/she decided to go because of the confidence in the doctor's ability. Once prescribed by the doctor, I strongly believe that one must complete the course as prescribed.