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Can Bactrim Be Used Continously In Elder Patients?

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Posted on Wed, 23 Apr 2014
Question: My mother is 92 and has dementia. She has been prescribed Bactrim for relief of a urinary tract infection. A family member believes that Bactrim is safe and regularly used on a continuing basis prophylactically in elderly patients to avoid future infections. I have always been advised that antibiotics should be taken only for a specific time as recommended by a doctor or there is significant risk that the drug will lose it's effectiveness. The patient has not had a UTI for several years. Which is correct?
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Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (36 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Antibiotics can be taken for prophylaxis... Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this mix up. Antibiotics can be taken for urinary tract infection prophylaxis but there should be a logical argument before getting there. This will not cause a resistance because it is to prevent germs from multiplying as opposed to treating an infection. These are different and with prophylaxis, there are no germs and the goal is to prevent them from settling while with treatment, there are germs and the goal is to eliminate them. If she had several urinary tract infections in the past, then it is the right thing to do. The drug would not lose its effectiveness so long as it is being used for prophylaxis. If she never had repeated urinary infections in the past, then this decision is too early. I will suggest she stays off it and only get the drug if she should present with repeated infections. Bactrim is safe for prophylaxis but should not be used without undue justification which should be repeated urinary tract infections in this case. I hope this helps. I wish her well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarification if need be. Thanks. Dr. Ivo, MD.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Dr. Ivo Ditah

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3984 Questions

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Can Bactrim Be Used Continously In Elder Patients?

Brief Answer: Antibiotics can be taken for prophylaxis... Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this mix up. Antibiotics can be taken for urinary tract infection prophylaxis but there should be a logical argument before getting there. This will not cause a resistance because it is to prevent germs from multiplying as opposed to treating an infection. These are different and with prophylaxis, there are no germs and the goal is to prevent them from settling while with treatment, there are germs and the goal is to eliminate them. If she had several urinary tract infections in the past, then it is the right thing to do. The drug would not lose its effectiveness so long as it is being used for prophylaxis. If she never had repeated urinary infections in the past, then this decision is too early. I will suggest she stays off it and only get the drug if she should present with repeated infections. Bactrim is safe for prophylaxis but should not be used without undue justification which should be repeated urinary tract infections in this case. I hope this helps. I wish her well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarification if need be. Thanks. Dr. Ivo, MD.