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Are Antibiotics Safe For The Treatment Of Chronic Perianal Fistulas?
Question: I have had several peri rectal abscesses over a period of years. Three of them turned into fistulas. I got cellulitis after having my last abscess drained by a surgeon who refused to put me on antibiotics. Went to ER and doctor put me on bactrim for 14 days. 2 of my fistulas have healed completely and the other is draining very little. This is great, but now that I'm off the antibiotics my intestinal issues are back. I'm the opposite of most in that my cramping and diarreah go away when on antibiotics. I do have diverticular disease. With this being said, doesn't further antibiotic treatment seem to be a good treatment for me consider the benefits I achieved?
Brief Answer:
Long term antibiotic not appropriate
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
Antibiotics should not be used as a treatment of chronic perianal fistulas. It may cause temporary relief of symptoms but in longer use it will have bad effects,it will become ineffective,cause bacterial resistancy and development of new infections,and it will damage bowel mucosa. Only acute inflammation such as abscesses can be treated by antibiotics if not surgically drained. After surgical drainage,antibiotics are not necessary in most cases. Fistulas can be sign of some bowel disease such as Crohn s or ulcerative colitis so you should do colonoscopy. Also,permanent fistula excision can be preformed by proctologist. Wish you good health. Regards
Long term antibiotic not appropriate
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
Antibiotics should not be used as a treatment of chronic perianal fistulas. It may cause temporary relief of symptoms but in longer use it will have bad effects,it will become ineffective,cause bacterial resistancy and development of new infections,and it will damage bowel mucosa. Only acute inflammation such as abscesses can be treated by antibiotics if not surgically drained. After surgical drainage,antibiotics are not necessary in most cases. Fistulas can be sign of some bowel disease such as Crohn s or ulcerative colitis so you should do colonoscopy. Also,permanent fistula excision can be preformed by proctologist. Wish you good health. Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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