Introduction
Especially in the winter months many patients suffer from flu-like infections. Over time, these can also affect the lower respiratory tract and trigger bronchitis. Doctors very often prescribe antibiotics, although bronchitis is caused by viruses in up to 90% of cases and therefore does not respond to antibiotics. This is a major problem and should be avoided at all costs.
Guideline for antibiotic administration in bronchitis
The guidelines for the treatment of acute bronchitis do not usually provide for antibiotic therapy, as most infections are caused by viruses and antibiotics have no effect on them. Instead, attention should be paid to general measures such as a sufficient fluid intake, as this makes it easier to expectorate the secretion. The reason why doctors prescribe antibiotics to their patients despite these findings is, according to the guidelines, the assumption that patients have an expectation on the part of doctors.
By thinking that the patient expects a corresponding prescription from him, the doctor carries out this inappropriate therapy order. Nevertheless, there are also cases of bronchitis where antibiotic therapy may be appropriate. This applies, for example, if a bacterial pathogen has been proven beyond doubt or if the patient suffers from serious underlying diseases. Antibiotic therapy can also be used to prevent a bacterial superinfection. If the course of the disease is long and severe and lasts for more than a week, antibiotic therapy can also be considered in individual cases.
Which antibiotics are used for bronchitis?
The use of antibiotics for bronchitis should always be carefully considered by a physician, as it is often a viral infection of the bronchial tubes, for which the intake of antibiotics is not effective. However, if antibiotics have to be used, aminopenicillins like amoxicillin are used. In the case of an allergy or intolerance to penicillins, or if an infection by atypical pathogens is suspected, antibiotics from the class of macrolides (such as clarithromycin or roxithromycin) or fluoroquinolones from group III or IV are used. For patients who also suffer from certain underlying diseases (such as chronic lung diseases or heart failure), the drug of choice is an aminopenicillin in combination with a so-called betalactamase inhibitor (e.g. amoxicillin/clavulanic acid). This topic might also be of interest to you: Allergy to Amoxicillin
Duration of antibiotic use in bronchitis
Depending on the antibiotic selected, the preparation should normally be taken over a period of five to seven days. It is important to take the medication regularly over this period, in sufficient dosages and with plenty of water, and always take the whole prescribed package.
When does the administration of antibiotics improve bronchitis?
How quickly the symptoms improve after taking an antibiotic cannot be said in general, as it is always an individual medical history with different basic conditions. It depends on whether it is a primary bacterial bronchitis or a secondary bacterial infection (so-called superinfection) to a disease originally caused by viruses. In such a case, the antibiotic is only effective against the bacterial infection and influences the recovery in the sense that the body’s own immune system can better deal with the viruses after fighting the bacteria.
In addition, it depends on how old the patient is, his or her basic health condition and any secondary diseases he or she may have. Due to all these factors influencing the individual course of the disease, it is difficult to make an exact statement on the improvement of bronchitis symptoms after taking antibiotics. In an uncomplicated case, it could probably be said that after two to three days of antibiotics at the earliest, there should be some relief of symptoms.
