Antibiotic dosing– Virtually all resistance occurs by transposable element gene transfer promoted by the use of antibiotics, particularly at low doses and for long duration. Antibiotics should be used aggressively and for as short a time as is compatible with patient’s remission of the disease. Many clinicians follow the pattern of continuing antibiotics for a minimum of 48 hours after disappearance of symptoms. That would mean reevaluating the patient 1-2 days after initiation of antibiotics.
The dosage and duration of the therapy depend upon the nature of the infection and the severity of the infection. A simple urinary tract infection in an adult female may only require 3 days of oral therapy, but deep seated infections like osteomyelitis or endocarditis will require prolonged parenteral therapy for six weeks or more.
Contraindications and special precautions: In patients with blood disorders, active CNS diseases, hypersensitivity, sever hepatic failure, pregnancy, lactation, neonates, active peptic ulcers, asthma etc, it is advisable to seek opinion from the concerned physician before prescribing these drugs.
Interesting fact – Fluorides, Ibuprofen, Iron Salts, Iodine drugs, tetracycline ingestion may discolor stools black Greenish grey or white/speckling is seen with many oral antibiotics.
