The use of antibiotics for prostatitis is indicated in many cases. The inflammatory process is often associated with the penetration of bacteria, and the use of drugs that inhibit the growth and spread of microorganisms is necessary. However, you can’t use such drugs on your own. Antibacterial agents do not help with any inflammation. There are cases when antibiotic treatment of prostatitis is ineffective and may even exacerbate symptoms. Correctly prescribe the drug can only be a doctor after all necessary examinations.
What is prostatitis
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland (prostate) in men. The disease manifests itself in pains in the lower abdomen and in the perineum, impaired urination, an enlarged organ. This pathology can have unpleasant consequences. Inflamed inflammation becomes chronic and leads to impotence and infertility.
Inflammation can be caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi. In some cases, the pathology is non-infectious in nature and is caused by congestion in the pelvis.
Antibiotics for prostatitis are indicated only in case of an infectious lesion. Antibacterial agents are used only when the cause of the disease is precisely established. With inflammation associated with a sedentary lifestyle and blood stasis, these drugs will not help.
What research needs to be done before treatment
To solve the question: whether prostatitis should be treated with antibiotics, the doctor prescribes a series of examinations to the patient. This helps to identify the cause and causative agent of the disease. The patient is recommended to undergo the following tests:
- General blood test. Helps determine the number of white blood cells and ESR. These indicators indicate the presence of inflammation.
- Analysis of urine and prostate secretion for bacterial culture. Identifies the causative agent of the disease.
- Spermogram. This study shows the prevalence of a pathological lesion. It helps determine if inflammation has spread to the testicular region.
- Analysis of the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics. Allows you to choose the most effective drug for treatment.
According to the results of these examinations, the doctor prescribes complex therapy.
When antibiotics are not needed
The use of antibiotics for prostatitis of viral origin is ineffective. These drugs are not able to act on such microorganisms. Taking antibacterial drugs can even worsen the situation with viral inflammation. Such medications usually reduce immunity, which is extremely harmful with this form of the disease.
Antibiotics for chronic prostatitis in remission are not indicated. They are prescribed only during an exacerbation of the inflammatory process. The disease during a lull period can be treated with other methods.
When are antibiotics necessary?
Antibiotic treatment of prostatitis is indicated primarily in the bacterial form of the disease. With pathology caused by protozoa (chlamydia, trichomonads) and fungi, the use of antibacterial drugs is also acceptable. But not all drugs are capable of affecting such types of microorganisms.
Bacterial prostatitis usually proceeds with pronounced symptoms. The man’s temperature rises sharply, severe pain in the perineum appears, which worries not only during urination, but also at rest.
Often patients are interested in what is the best antibiotic for prostatitis. It all depends on the type of pathogen of inflammation. Each drug is able to affect a specific group of microorganisms. Even drugs with a wide spectrum of action can destroy far from any bacteria. The best antibiotic will be the one that is prescribed taking into account all the results of the examination.
The main groups of antibiotics
Doctors use different groups of antibiotics for prostatitis. The list of these drugs is quite extensive. In the treatment of inflammation of the prostate gland, the following types of drugs are used:
- Penicillins. Act on a wide range of bacteria, except for ureaplasma and mycoplasia. Powerless against the simplest microorganisms: chlamydia and Trichomonas.
- Tetracyclines. They are capable of destroying many types of bacteria, but do not affect proteas, gonococci and pseudomonas.
- Macrolides. These are effective antibiotics for prostatitis caused by chlamydia, as well as mycoplasma and ureaplasma infection.
- Cephalosporins. Affect gonococci, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli and Proteus.
- Aminoglycosides. These drugs are able to fight not only with many types of bacteria, but also with fungal infection.
- Fluoroquinolones. Some types of prostatitis are caused by bacteria entering the prostate from the intestines. Fluoroquinolones help in such cases.
Next will be a hello brief review of the different groups of antibiotics taken with prostatitis.
Penicillin preparations
This group of drugs is most often prescribed for bacterial prostatitis. Penicillins affect many microorganisms. Some types of such antibiotics are used as injections, as they break down in the stomach. But many penicillin medicines are in the form of capsules and tablets. They are convenient to take at home. These medicines include:
- Amoxicillin. Its active ingredient quickly enters the prostate gland and destroys bacteria. The required dose (no more than 2 mg per day) is prescribed by the attending physician. The course of therapy usually lasts 2 weeks.
- Amoxiclav. This medicine refers to a new generation of penicillins. It also penetrates into the tissues of the prostate, destroys the shell of microorganisms and causes their death. Take the drug for 10 to 14 days.
Often men are interested in what antibiotics to take with prostatitis complicated by adenoma of the gland. In this case, it is the use of penicillins that is indicated. However, it must be remembered that these medications can trigger skin allergies with urticaria and itching. If such symptoms appear, you should consult your doctor about replacing the drug.
Another side effect with penicillins can be oral thrush. Therefore, with prostatitis of fungal origin, taking this group of antibiotics is strictly contraindicated.
Tetracyclines
Of this category of drugs, "Tetracycline" is most often used. The antibiotic can be used both in tablet form and in the form of an ointment for topical treatment. It can destroy streptococci, staphylococci, salmonella, as well as the simplest microorganisms of chlamydia. The medicine is prescribed in a dosage of 0.25 - 0.5 g 4 times a day.
A more modern drug is Doxycycline. It acts faster and reaches the highest concentrations in the body.
Tetracyclines inhibit the formation of protein in bacterial cells, which leads to the death of microorganisms. The disadvantages of this group of drugs include their ability to negatively affect the digestive tract and liver. The medicine "Unidox solutab" has the least side effects. It contains the same active ingredient as Doxycycline, but in a slightly modified form (doxycycline monohydrate). Unidox Solutab is faster and safer for the stomach.
Macrolides
Common causes of prostatitis are chlamydial, mycoplasma and ureaplasma infections. There are cases when a patient determines all the listed types of microorganisms in the analyzes. They are transmitted primarily through sexual contact. What antibiotics for prostatitis are shown in this case? Not every antibacterial drug is able to affect these types of infections.
Macrolides come to the rescue. They successfully fight these microorganisms. Such drugs are usually used in combination with other types of antibacterial drugs. Macrolide antibiotics include:
- Summamed
- Clarithromycin.
- "Azithromycin".
- Fromilide.
Drugs take 500-1000 mg per day. The listed drugs belong to semisynthetic macrolides of the 2nd and 3rd generation. This is the safest kind of antibiotic. Unpleasant side effects can cause only macrolide drugs "Erythromycin" and "Oleandomycin." But these days they are practically not used in the treatment of prostatitis, as they are obsolete medicines.
Cephalosporins
Cephalosporins of 3 generations are used to treat prostatitis. Medicines of this group are more often used on an outpatient and inpatient basis. Most drugs are available in powder form for injection. These medicines include:
They are injected into the gluteus muscle or into a vein. The injections are rather painful, therefore, it is recommended to add anesthetic “Lidocaine” to the injection solution.
For oral administration, the Suprax antibiotic is released. It can be taken at home. However, it must be borne in mind that cellophalosporins are contraindicated in severe liver and kidney diseases, as well as for allergies.
Aminoglycosides
These drugs have a wide spectrum of action. They can affect not only bacteria, but also fungal infections. However, with candidal prostatitis, they need to be used in combination with drugs that destroy the pathogen of thrush (yeast). The following aminoglycosides are used to treat inflammation of the prostate:
- Gentamicin. The antibiotic is released in the form of an injection drug. It is able to fight a wide range of bacteria and fungi, so it can be prescribed even before analysis. It helps in cases where it is not possible to identify the causative agent of the disease.
- Kanamycin. This tool is rarely used, as it is quite toxic. However, the drug helps in cases where the bacteria have developed resistance to other antibiotics.
- Amikacin is effective in the most severe forms of the disease, including prostate tuberculosis etiology. Already 10 hours after taking the medicine, the patient feels relief.
However, aminoglycosides have pronounced undesirable effects. Many men after using these antibiotics complain of hearing problems, impaired coordination of movements, dizziness, an increase or decrease in diuresis.
Fluoroquinolones
Fluoroquinolones are effective in exacerbating chronic prostatitis, as they have an elongated effect. They are able to affect the DNA of microorganisms. These antibiotics destroy even those bacteria that are resistant to other drugs. Drugs are generally well tolerated. This group of antibacterial agents includes:
- Ofloxacin.
- Levofloxacin.
- Ciprofloxacin.
Fluoroquinolones are intended for long-term use - up to 4 weeks. In rare cases, patients have mild dyspeptic symptoms.
Combination drugs
Combined products include Safocid. This is a drug complex that includes 4 tablets of different drugs:
- macrolide "Azithromycin" (1 tablet);
- antifungal agent "Fluconazole" (1 tablet);
- antiprotozoal preparation "Secnidazole" (2 tablets).
This unique medicine can act on bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. It is often used for mixed sexually transmitted infections. However, the drug is also effective for prostatitis, if different types of microorganisms are determined in the analysis.
Usually, a single dose of tablets is sufficient to achieve the effect. In chronic forms of the disease, the drug is consumed within 5 days.
How to speed up recovery
The administration of antibiotics for prostatitis in men must be combined with other types of treatment. Antibacterial drugs alone are not enough to relieve inflammation. Combined therapy will help to cope with the disease more quickly.
With prostatitis, along with antibiotics, the following drugs are prescribed:
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- immunomodulators;
- medicines to improve blood circulation;
- local remedies (ointments, suppositories).
Along with drug therapy, physiotherapy is indicated: UHF, magnetotherapy, massage. This will complement antibacterial treatment.
When taking antibiotics, you must follow a diet that restricts spicy, greasy, and fried foods. This will reduce the burden on the digestive system.
It must be remembered that antibacterial drugs are incompatible with alcohol. Ethanol can significantly reduce the therapeutic effect and lead to serious side effects.