Fever despite antibiotics – what to do?

What is fever despite antibiotics?

Fever is first of all a natural reaction of the body to a pathogen, such as bacteria. Due to the higher temperature, the pathogens are fought more effectively. Often, however, an antibiotic is also necessary.

An antibiotic is a medication that can kill the bacteria. The antibiotic kills the bacteria faster and more effectively than the immune system. Thus the immune system can stop the defense reaction and the fever sinks again. If the antibiotic does not work sufficiently or if the triggering pathogens are not bacteria, but for example viruses, the immune system must continue to fight the pathogens and the fever persists.

How quickly do antibiotics work in fever?

Antibiotics unfold their effect relatively quickly, even if there is a fever at the same time. However, when taking the antibiotics, the intervals must be observed as closely as possible so that they can achieve their full effect. Furthermore, the onset of action depends on the form in which the antibiotic is taken.

Outside the hospital, antibiotics are usually prescribed in tablet form, as ointment or drops. During an inpatient stay, the antibiotic can also be administered through the vein, which has a better effect. Furthermore, the consumption of alcohol or dairy products can have a negative effect on the antibiotic’s effectiveness.

What can I do if the fever does not go away despite antibiotics?

Further helpful information can be found under: How can you lower fever, how can I tell if my fever is contagious? If an adult’s fever persists for an unusually long period of time despite antibiotics, it can have various causes. First you should make sure that the antibiotic has been taken properly.

Afterwards one should question whether the fever was released by a bacterial infection, or whether nevertheless another germ (e.g. virus or mushroom) could be behind it. Then the antibiotic would not be effective. If one proceeds from a bacterial infection, a further source of error can be the choice of the wrong antibiotic.

Different germs respond better or worse to certain antibiotics. Depending on whether the patient was last hospitalized or has other risk factors (for example, chronic illness), different bacteria can be the most likely triggers. Here, the determination of the bacterium and its resistance can provide important information.

Resistance can be another reason for fever despite antibiotics. Through the massive use of antibiotics, bacteria develop resistance to certain drugs. Especially in the hospital environment, possible resistances must always be considered.

Finally, when selecting an antibiotic, one must also consider where the drug is to be effective. If, for example, there is an inflammation in the soft tissue, special antibiotics must be selected that can penetrate this soft tissue well so that sufficient active ingredient arrives at the site of infection. If this does not happen, the infection can spread further and the fever persists.

If a fever in a baby or toddler lasts longer than three days despite antibiotic therapy, a pediatrician should be consulted. The pediatrician will then evaluate why the fever does not go down. As with adults, possible sources of error can be the wrong intake, another non-bacterial germ or the wrong antibiotic.

This situation must be taken seriously, especially with babies, as they can lose fluid quickly due to the fever and possible refusal to drink and do not have many reserves. In addition, other symptoms such as skin rash, sore throat and especially neck stiffness must be taken into account. Neck stiffness indicates an inflammation of the meninges.

This dangerous, but quite rare, clinical picture must be treated with the right antibiotics as quickly as possible. It is important that an antibiotic is chosen which also reaches the spinal canal. To achieve a sufficient effect, the antibiotic must also be given through the vein.

Pneumonia can be caused by various germs. Some of them are more frequent, others less frequent.In the case of pneumonia, one would first administer an antibiotic that fits the patient’s history and is effective against the most common pathogens. If there are already known peculiarities, such as hospitalization or a weakened immune system (for example due to a serious chronic disease), one would choose an antibiotic with a broader spectrum of activity from the outset.

If the fever persists after the third day and there is also a worsening of the general condition, therapy failure must be considered and a switch to other antibiotics must be made. In this case the pathogen should then also be determined in order to also exclude the possibility that it is not a virus against which the antibiotic would be ineffective. With a urinary tract infection the antibiotic therapy is selected particularly after the severity of the process and afterwards whether it concerns a complicated or uncomplicated inflammation – here above all it plays a role whether the urinary tract infection occurs for the first time or more frequently, with a woman or a man.

If there is also a knocking pain in the flank, it is assumed that it is also an infection of the renal pelvis. If the fever and other symptoms persist despite antibiotic therapy, the choice of antibiotic should be reconsidered. In this case, determining the exact pathogen helps, since not every antibiotic is equally effective against every germ.

In addition, one must also always think about antibiotic resistance. Whether a germ is resistant to a certain antibiotic can be determined in the laboratory. An inflammation of the middle ear should only be treated with an antibiotic if the course of the disease is very severe or if risk factors are present.

A severe course of the disease is accompanied by high fever and a greatly reduced general condition. The antibiotic of choice is amoxicillin. However, it is known that patients who have already received amoxicillin in the previous month do not respond well to the drug.

This could then be the reason for the existing fever despite antibiotic. You should then immediately receive another antibiotic. With middle ear inflammation, good ventilation via the ear trumpet is also important.

Here, for example, decongestant nasal sprays can be used or possibly enlarged pharyngeal tonsils, colloquially known as polyps, can be removed. If this is not done, the inflammation can easily return and thus lead to permanent fever. Fever after an operation does not always indicate a bacterial infection.

For example, post-operative blood clots (thromboembolism) or large bruises can still trigger a fever a few days after the operation. In this case, the fever develops even if the patient receives antibiotics prophylactically. Of course, a fever after an operation can also indicate an infection.

Frequently, these are pneumonia, urinary tract infections and wound infections. Depending on which germ has caused this inflammation, the prophylactically given antibiotic may be ineffective. If a fever occurs despite antibiotics after an operation, the cause must be investigated in order to prevent dangerous complications.