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broad spectrum antibiotic?

I have UTI & the result of the urinalysis is

WBC 20-30

RBC 30-40

NIL (+)

Bacteria (+++)

The doctor prescribed: ciprofloxacin, effervescent granules urinary antiseptic, & hyoscine butylbromide..

The lab is not finished with culture & sensitivity analysis.

Question (1): should I start with broad-spectrum antibiotic before that or should I wait until the analysis is done?

Question (2): After the result, should the doctor change the medicine to narrow-spectrum antibiotic?

Question (3): Which is better -in this case- to start & continue with broad-spectrum antibiotic OR start with broad-spectrum antibiotic then continue with narrow-spectrum antibiotic?

Thanx in advane

3 Answers

Relevance
  • N
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Antibiotics are chosen based on the suspected bacteria and location of the infection. Flouroquinolones like cipro are commonly prescribed for UTIs and usually work. Certain communities have resistant organisms so the doctor will take into account what antibiotics work for specific bacteria in that community. For example in the hospital I work at most of the UTIs are resistant to flouroquinolones so we usually give cephalosporins or bactrim.

    The faster you start an antibiotic the better. It can always be changed or downgraded once the culture results return. If you still have symptoms after 48-72 hours of taking the antibiotic then you should consult your doctor as it may not be working.

    Source(s): PA surgical critical care, I treat lots of UTI patients who wind up in the ICU
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Having suffered from a abscess on my kidney due to a UTI I know a little bit about all this. Of course they have to start you initially on an antibiotic (blind guessing) just to have you start on some kind of antibiotic. Its better to start an antibiotic and have to switch than not be on one at all. Then after the culture comes back they will be able to have an accurate antibiotic that the bacteria is susceptible to. For me they started of with bactrim which the bacteria was resistant, then switched to Macrobid which worked but elevated my liver enzymes, but it apparently I had the UTI for a while (without symptoms) and it traveled to my right kidney and caused a renal abscess the size of a golf ball. They had to stick a needle through my back to drain it. It was full of E. Coli. I was in the hospital for 7 days and sent home with a PICC line in my arm where i had to administer my own antibiotics for 14 days. Luckily it didn't damage my kidney and have fully recovered. UTI are serious and nothing to mess around with. Take care and hope you get better. :)

    Out of 10 antibiotics including broad spectrum there were only 3-4 that were sensitive and they were available in IV form only.

    Source(s): sorry so lengthy but i have been through this and its not fun! Ask you doctor questions... and follow their advice. TAKE ALL OF THE MEDICATION UNTIL COMPETELY GONE!
  • 1 decade ago

    i agree with ^

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