Medicines are used to treat various diseases. And also for their prevention. Medicines are obtained from plant materials, minerals, chemicals, etc. Potions, powders, tablets, capsules are prescribed in a strictly defined dose. This article will focus on antimicrobials.
What are antimicrobials?
The history of antimicrobials begins with the discovery of penicillin. It successfully fights bacteria. Based on it, scientists began to make antimicrobial drugs from natural or synthetic compounds. Such drugs are included in the group of "antibiotics". An antimicrobial agent, unlike others, kills microorganisms faster and more efficiently. They are used against various fungi, staphylococci, etc.
Antimicrobials are the largest group of medicines. Despite the different chemical structure and mechanismactions, they have a number of common specific properties. Destroy "pests" in cells, not in tissues. Antibiotic activity declines over time as microbes begin to develop habits.
Types of antimicrobials
Antimicrobial medicines are divided into three groups. The first is natural (herbs, honey, etc.).
Second - semi-synthetic. They are divided into three types:
- Antistaphylococcal penicillins (oxacillins). They have the same antimicrobial spectrum as penicillin, but with less activity. Applicable to adults and children.
- Broad-spectrum drugs. These include "Ampicillin", which affects gram-negative bacteria (salmonella, etc.). It is less active against streptococci. There is no effect at all on some other bacteria (Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc.). "Amoxicillin" also belongs to the second species. It is the leading oral antibiotic worldwide. Both of these drugs can be prescribed for adults and children.
- Antipseudomonal penicillins. They have two subspecies - carboxy- and ureidopenicillins.
Third - synthetic antimicrobial agents. This is an extensive group of drugs.
Sulfanilamides. Medicines of this group are prescribed if there is intolerance to antibiotics or the microflora does not respond to them. By action, they are more active than sulfonamide preparations. These include:
- "Streptocide".
- "Norsulfazol".
- "Sulfadimezin".
- "Urosulfan".
- "Ftalazol".
- "Sulfadimethoxine".
- "Bactrim".
Quinolone derivatives. Basically, drugs in this group are used for infections of the genitourinary system, enterocolitis, cholecystitis, etc. Recently, new quinolone derivatives have been increasingly used:
- "Ciprofloxacin".
- "Norfloxacin".
- "Pefloxacin".
- "Lomefloxacin".
- "Moxifloxacin".
- "Ofloxacin".
These are highly active antimicrobials with a wide spectrum of action. They are less active against Gram-positive bacteria. An antimicrobial agent is prescribed for infections of the respiratory and urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract.
Also, the third group includes derivatives of 8-hydroxyquinoline. These include a number of compounds that have antifungal, antiparasitic and antibacterial activity ("Nitroxoline", "Mexaform", etc.). Derivatives of "Nitrofuran" ("Furazolidone" and "Furacilin") and "Nitroimidazole" ("Tinidazole" and "Metronidazole").
How do antimicrobials work?
Antimicrobial agents have two types (by effect):
- "Cidal" (bacteria-, fungi-, viri- or protosia-). In this case, the infectious agent dies.
- "Static" (with the same prefixes). In this case, only the reproduction of the pathogen is suspended or stopped.
When immunity is impaired, "cidic" drugs are prescribed. Moreover, antibiotics must be periodically changed or used with other drugs.
Antimicrobials can be either narrow or broad spectrum. Most infections are caused by a single pathogen. In this case, the "breadth" of the drug will not only be less effective, but also harmful to the beneficial microflora of the body. Therefore, doctors prescribe antibiotics with a "narrow" spectrum of action.
Antimicrobials
Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents are divided into three groups. The main one is antibiotics. They are divided into 11 main types:
- Beta-lactam. They have three groups: A (penicillins), B (cephalosporins) and C (carbapenems). These are broad-spectrum drugs with a bacteriostatic effect. Block the protein of microbes, weaken their protection.
- Tetracyclines. Bacteriostatic, the main action is the inhibition of protein synthesis of microbes. They may be in the form of tablets, ointments (Oletetrin, Tetracycline Hydrochloride) or capsules (Doxycycline).
- Macrolides. Violate the integrity of the membrane by binding to fats.
- Aminoglycosides. They have a bactericidal effect in violation of protein synthesis.
- Fluoroquinolones. Have a bactericidal effect, block enzymesbacteria. Disrupt microbial DNA synthesis.
- Lincosamides. Bacteriostatics that bind microbial membrane components.
- "Chloramphenicol". Otherwise - "Levomitsetin". It is highly toxic to bone marrow and blood. Therefore, it is mainly applied topically (in the form of an ointment).
- "Polymyxin" (M and B). They act selectively, in gram-negative flora.
- Antituberculous. They are used mainly against mycobacteria, but are also effective for a wide range. But only tuberculosis is treated with these drugs, since they are considered reserve (Rifampicin, Isoniazid).
- Sulfanilamides. They have many side effects, so today they are practically not used.
- Nitrofurans. Bacteriostatics, but at high concentrations - bactericides. They are mainly used for infections: intestinal ("Furazolidone", "Nifuroxazid", "Enterofuril") and urinary tract ("Furamag", "Furadonin").
The second group is bacteriophages. They are prescribed in the form of solutions for local or oral administration (rinsing, washing, lotion). The use of antimicrobial agents of this group is also used in cases of dysbacteriosis or an allergic reaction to antibiotics.
The third group is antiseptics. They are used for disinfection (treatment of wounds, oral cavity and skin).
Best Antimicrobial
"Sulfamethoxazole" is the bestantimicrobial agent. Has a wide spectrum of action. Sulfamethoxazole is active against many microorganisms. It blocks the metabolism of bacteria and prevents their reproduction and growth. Sulfamethoxazole is a combined antimicrobial drug. It is designed to treat:
- genitourinary infections (cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, pyelitis, pyelonephritis, gonorrhea and a number of other diseases);
- acute and chronic bronchitis;
- respiratory tract;
- gastrointestinal infections (diarrhea, cholera, paratyphoid, shigellosis, typhoid fever, cholecystitis, gastroenteritis, cholangitis);
- ENT;
- pneumonia;
- acne;
- faces;
- furunculosis;
- wound infections;
- soft tissue abscesses;
- otitis media;
- laryngitis;
- meningitis;
- malaria;
- brucellosis;
- sinusitis;
- brain abscess;
- osteomyelitis;
- septicemia;
- toxoplasmosis;
- South American blastomycosis;
- and a number of other diseases.
The use of "Sulfamethoxazole" is extensive, but a doctor's consultation is necessary, like all medicines, it has a number of contraindications and side effects. It is necessary to control its concentration in the blood plasma.
Children's antimicrobials
An antimicrobial agent for children is selected very carefully, depending on the disease. Not all medicaldrugs are approved for the treatment of children.
The group of antimicrobials contains two types of drugs:
- Nitrofuran ("Furazolidone", "Furacilin", "Furadonin"). They well suppress microbes (streptococci, staphylococci, etc.) and activate the immune system. Used to treat urinary tract and intestinal infections. Good for children with allergic reactions. Simultaneously with the drugs, ascorbic and other acids are prescribed.
- Oxyquinolines ("Intestopan", "Negram", "Enteroseptol", "Nitroxoline"). These drugs destroy microbes, suppressing their vital activity (causative agents of colitis, dysentery, typhoid, etc.). They are used for diseases of the intestines. "Nitroxoline" - for urinary tract infections.
A number of other anti-inflammatory drugs are also used. But their choice depends on the disease of the child. The most commonly used penicillin group. For example, with pharyngitis and some other infections that are caused by streptococcus "A", penicillins "G" and "V" are also used.
Natural preparations are prescribed for syphilis, meningococcus, listeriosis, neonatal infection (caused by streptococcus "B"). In any case, treatment is prescribed individually, taking into account the tolerability of drugs.
Children's anti-inflammatory drugs
In pediatrics, there are 3 main groups of anti-inflammatory drugs:
- Anti-influenza ("Oxolin","Algirem"). "Remantadin" does not let the virus into the cells. But the one that is already in the body cannot be affected. Therefore, the drug must be taken in the first hours of the disease. It is also used to prevent encephalitis (after a tick bite).
- Antiherpetic ("Zovirax", "Acyclovir").
- Broad spectrum ("Gamma globulin"). Dibazol stimulates the immune system, but slowly. Therefore, it is mainly used for the prevention of influenza. "Interferon" is an endogenous substance that is also produced in the body. It activates the antiviral protein. As a result, the body's resistance to viruses increases. "Interferon" prevents many infectious diseases and their complications.
Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory natural remedies
Tablets, solutions, powders are not always used immediately. If it is possible to use an antimicrobial agent that nature provides, then sometimes it does not even come to prescribing drugs at all. Also, many herbs, infusions and decoctions can relieve inflammation. Listing:
- drugs based on calamus, wild rosemary, alder, pine buds;
- water extracts of oak bark;
- infusions of oregano;
- St. John's wort;
- hyssop officinalis;
- burnet officinalis;
- Snake Highlander;
- juniper fruit;
- common thyme;
- garlic;
- sage leaves.
Can I self-medicate with antimicrobials?
It is forbidden to use antimicrobial drugs for self-medication without a doctor's prescription. The wrong choice of medicine can lead to allergies or an increase in the population of microbes that will be insensitive to the drug. Dysbacteriosis may occur. The surviving microbes can give rise to a chronic infection, and the result of this is the emergence of immune diseases.
