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What are Prophylactic Antibiotics?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Prophylactic antibiotics are antibiotic medications provided to a patient with the goal of preventing an infection. Antibiotic prophylaxis is usually used in connection with a medical procedure where there is a risk of infection, either because of the nature of the procedure or as a result of an underlying medical condition. Guidelines for the use of prophylactic antibiotics are used by doctors to determine when patients should receive medications, and it is important for patients to follow prescription directions precisely to protect themselves.

Certain surgeries carry a higher risk of infection as a result of their invasive or traumatic nature. These patients may be told to start antibiotics before surgery, and will continue after surgery through a course of treatment. The antibiotics need to be finished, as it is important to avoid contributing to antibiotic resistance by exposing bacteria to a partial dosage. If patients experience allergic reactions or severe side effects, a different medication can be tried.

Prophylactic antibiotics may be given to a patient prior to surgery.
Prophylactic antibiotics may be given to a patient prior to surgery.

Some patients are at risk of a condition called infective endocarditis, where bacteria colonize one of the valves of the heart. This includes patients with artificial heart valves, a history of this issue, or certain heart conditions. These patients may be advised to take prophylactic antibiotics before all surgical procedures, including dental care. Patients with compromised immune systems may also be a cause for concern, as their bodies will be less able to fight off infectious organisms.

The potential side effects of prophylactic antibiotics include allergic reactions and hives.
The potential side effects of prophylactic antibiotics include allergic reactions and hives.

A variety of drugs can be used, depending on the preference of the doctor. Patients preparing for surgery should note any history of allergic reactions so their doctors can take this into account when determining which antibiotics to prescribe. It is also advisable to provide surgeons with a complete medical history for the purpose of determining whether prophylactic antibiotic treatment is advisable or necessary in a given case.

Antibiotics may be prescribed in both pill and liquid forms.
Antibiotics may be prescribed in both pill and liquid forms.

There are some risks with this treatment, and these must be weighed when prescribing for a patient. The risk of allergic reactions is a concern, as is the development of antibiotic resistance. Doctors want to make sure drugs will be available when they are needed, and if a patient has resistant bacteria or allergies, it can be harder to find a good medication to treat an actual infection. Doctors are usually advised to prescribe prophylactic antibiotics for a patient only when there is a compelling need to do so, such as evidence of a patient's high risk of infection.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Animandel

@mobilian33 - Did you read the third paragraph. If you did then maybe you can understand why herbs can't replace prophylactic antibiotics. If you or someone in your family had bacteria growing in a heart value, are you going to tell me you would be happy taking garlic pills instead of one of these antibiotics?

Also, there are many people who have compromised immune systems and they depend on antibiotics to stay alive. Until we find something better we have little choice but to continue using antibiotics.

mobilian33

So not only do doctors give antibiotics to take care of infections, but they also give prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infections that might happen. Is there any wonder that we have all of these germs that can't be killed by antibiotics? Antibiotics are very effective, and have saved lives, but this is a case where there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

At what point do we realize that we have to be more careful in the way we use these medicines. There have to be some cases where some of the natural herbs could replace these medically made drugs.

Feryll

It's interesting what the article says in the second paragraph about how not taking all of the pills in your antibiotics prescription can lead to antibiotic resistance.

I don't like taking antibiotics. I avoid them whenever possible. However, when I was having chronic sinus infections, my doctor said I needed to take antibiotics to clear up the infections completely so I wouldn't continue to be bothered with them. As much as I didn't want to take them, I wanted to get rid of the sinus infections more.

Ironically, I stopped taking the antibodies before I took them all because I didn't want my body to become immune to them. Little did I know that I was actually doing exactly that by not taking all of the medicine.

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    • Prophylactic antibiotics may be given to a patient prior to surgery.
      By: Arkady Chubykin
      Prophylactic antibiotics may be given to a patient prior to surgery.
    • The potential side effects of prophylactic antibiotics include allergic reactions and hives.
      By: Alliance
      The potential side effects of prophylactic antibiotics include allergic reactions and hives.
    • Antibiotics may be prescribed in both pill and liquid forms.
      By: ognianmed
      Antibiotics may be prescribed in both pill and liquid forms.
    • Bacterial cultures may be used to identify the effectiveness of antibiotics for a specific infection.
      By: A Oller
      Bacterial cultures may be used to identify the effectiveness of antibiotics for a specific infection.