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Suggest Maintenance Medication For Pneumonia
Question: My wife age 70 has had pneumonia 5 times since April 3, 2016 and has been in and out of hospitals and rehab facilities and home and back in. They claim to have her well, but refuse to give her any maintenance antibiotics to let her fully recover without getting sick again. What do you know about maintenance drugs for pneumonia prevention. She has taken a lowdose of Macrodantin for years to prevent chronic urinary infection, and so have her sisters. So I know maintenance drugs work.
Brief Answer:
Considerations.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for sending the query.
Maintenance antibiotic has been validated for use in certain urinary conditions. This could include urinary retention or bladder emptying disorders where UTIs can be quite common.
Unfortunately, maintenance antibiotics have not been validated or approved for prevention of respiratory infection or pneumonia.
Antibiotcs used for pneumonia used on a long term basis could contribute to formation of resistant bacteria which could lead to a far more severe infection.
Also, prolonged broad spectrum antibiotic use could place one at risk for clostridium difficile or C. Diff infection which is an illness characterized by severe diarrhea.
Thank you again for sending the query.
Sincerely,
Dr Galamaga
Considerations.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for sending the query.
Maintenance antibiotic has been validated for use in certain urinary conditions. This could include urinary retention or bladder emptying disorders where UTIs can be quite common.
Unfortunately, maintenance antibiotics have not been validated or approved for prevention of respiratory infection or pneumonia.
Antibiotcs used for pneumonia used on a long term basis could contribute to formation of resistant bacteria which could lead to a far more severe infection.
Also, prolonged broad spectrum antibiotic use could place one at risk for clostridium difficile or C. Diff infection which is an illness characterized by severe diarrhea.
Thank you again for sending the query.
Sincerely,
Dr Galamaga
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
What would you consider long term ? I am thinking maybe a couple months.
Brief Answer:
Followup
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Anything longer than 2 weeks would be considered long term in my opinion.
If you believe she has some type of immunodeficiency then you could seek the expertise of an immunologist who may be able to request some blood tests to see if her immune system is functioning adequately.
Sincerely,
Dr Galamaga
Followup
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Anything longer than 2 weeks would be considered long term in my opinion.
If you believe she has some type of immunodeficiency then you could seek the expertise of an immunologist who may be able to request some blood tests to see if her immune system is functioning adequately.
Sincerely,
Dr Galamaga
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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