Antibiotics for ureaplasma

All bacteria are more or less sensitive to antibiotics, including ureaplasma. However, not every antibiotic can inhibit the growth and reproduction of microbial cells. For example, such popular and well-known drugs of the penicillin and cephalosporin series do not affect the vital activity of ureaplasma. What antibiotics are preferable for ureaplasma? Doctors assure: your choice should be made on the drug that can prevent the synthesis of protein and DNA in the bacterial cell. Such antibiotics include medications of the tetracycline series, fluoroquinolone series, aminoglycoside group, as well as macrolides and chloramphenicol.

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Indications for the use of antibiotics for ureaplasma

In order for a doctor to consider prescribing an antibiotic for ureaplasma, at least one of the following factors must be present:

• clear signs of an inflammatory process in the urinary system, with laboratory confirmation of ureaplasma;
• laboratory confirmation of ureaplasma with a titer of at least 104 CFU/ml;
• preparation for surgery on abdominal organs (as a preventative measure against ureaplasma);
• laboratory confirmation of ureaplasma against the background of secondary infertility;
• recurrent complicated pregnancies, habitual miscarriage.

It is important to consider that if ureaplasma is detected, it is necessary to treat both sexual partners, regardless of which of them has laboratory confirmation of ureaplasmosis. Throughout the entire course of treatment, sexual intercourse is possible only with the use of a condom, to prevent cross-exchange of infection.

Sowing for antibiotics, for ureaplasma

Ureaplasma is transmitted from one partner to another during sexual contact. The disease, ureaplasmosis, can be caused by two types of the pathogen. These are ureaplasma urealyticum and ureaplasma parvum.

Since ureaplasmosis does not occur with any pronounced symptoms in all patients, great importance is attached to bacterial culture for ureaplasma.

The essence of this type of research is as follows. In order to detect and identify the bacterium that causes ureaplasmosis, the laboratory applies the test material to a prepared nutrient medium. The material for analysis can be a smear from the urethra in men, a smear from the walls of the vagina, cervix and urethra in women, as well as samples of urine or sperm.

After a certain period of time, colonies of bacteria appear on the environment, which are identified as ureaplasmas based on biochemical and serological characteristics.

In addition to identification, the laboratory determines the approximate number of bacteria detected.

Determination of ureaplasma sensitivity to antibiotics

For further correct prescription of antibiotics, it is necessary to check the sensitivity of ureaplasma to specific types of drugs. How does this happen?

After confirming their identity, ureaplasma colonies are transferred to another nutrient medium, in which the main representatives of antibiotic groups have been placed in advance. It is determined how intensive the further growth of bacteria will be: in this way, the sensitivity and resistance of ureaplasma to a specific antibiotic is established.

Ureaplasma resistance to antibiotics can be assessed in three ways:

• there is sensitivity of ureaplasma, since the growth of colonies was stopped;
• ureaplasma is insensitive (colony growth is present, but it is weakly expressed);
• Ureaplasma exhibits resistance (the antibiotic has virtually no effect on the development of colonies).

For antibiotic therapy for ureaplasma, it is preferable to prescribe the drug that has the greatest inhibitory effect on the growth and development of bacteria.

Release form

It is important that the antibiotic is not only effective against ureaplasma, but also convenient to use. Therefore, among all forms of medicines, you need to choose the most comfortable option for yourself.

Judging by the reviews, for many patients taking tablets is optimal. Injectable forms are not used often - only occasionally at the beginning of treatment.

The most common antibiotic for ureaplasma is Minolexin, a representative of the tetracycline series. This drug is available in capsule form, which is a good alternative to the tablet form of antibiotics. The capsules are easy to take, and the gelatin shell will protect the mucous membrane of the digestive tract from drug irritation and the formation of ulcers.

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Names of antibiotics sensitive to ureaplasma

Many doctors, in order to rid the patient of pathogenic ureaplasma, prescribe a single dose of one gram of Azithromycin. Such an unusual treatment regimen causes a lot of controversy, since just one dose of the drug will most likely simply “slow down” the development of the infection, but will not kill it. Most doctors are inclined to believe that Azithromycin should still be taken for 1-2 weeks - in this case, you can be sure that the ureaplasma will be defeated.

Antibiotics for mycoplasma and ureaplasma are always prescribed in combination with other medications. Thus, the treatment regimen includes immunomodulators in the form of Pyrogenal, Methyluracil, Timalin or Timogen, as well as physiotherapy and autohemotherapy. At the end of the treatment (approximately 10 days later), the patient takes a test. If the cure is confirmed by the laboratory, the patient will have to take tests several more times over the course of 8-12 weeks to ensure the quality of the treatment.

Doxycycline preparations are most often recommended for ureaplasma. Such antibiotics are taken one to two times a day for one or one and a half weeks, which is quite convenient. Doxycycline is especially recommended if ureaplasma is detected simultaneously with diagnosed infertility. According to statistics, treatment with Doxycycline led to the fact that approximately every second such patient was able to successfully become pregnant.

If Doxycycline is contraindicated for any reason, the doctor may prescribe macrolides for the treatment of ureaplasma. The best recommendations are given to such drugs as Clarithromycin and Josamin.

Clarithromycin does not irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, and also has the ability to accumulate in tissues, so its effect is detected even after the course of treatment is completed. Usually this drug is taken 1 tablet in the morning and evening, for 1-2 weeks. If the patient is pregnant, then instead of Clarithromycin, Josamycin is prescribed in the amount of 500 mg three times a day, for two weeks.

Antibiotics for gardnerella and ureaplasma are prescribed in accordance with the following treatment regimens:

• Josamycin 500 mg three times a day (10 days), or Doxycycline 100 mg twice a day (one week) + Metronidazole 500 mg twice a day (one week).
• Clarithromycin 250 mg twice daily (one week), or Roxithromycin 150 mg twice daily (one week), or Levofloxacin 500 mg (one week) + Ornidazole 500 mg for five days.

Therapeutic treatment for ureaplasma and gardnerella in women may include only taking tablets, or tablets and vaginal suppositories with antibacterial action.

Antibiotics for chlamydia and ureaplasma are prescribed without bacterial culture and sensitivity testing. The point is that chlamydia is an intracellular bacterium that is not always determined by bacterial culture, so it is not always possible to conduct this test. Antibiotic therapy for chlamydia and ureaplasma is prescribed using drugs with the widest possible antibacterial activity - preferably fluoroquinolone or macrolide:

• macrolides (Erythromycin, Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, etc.);
• fluoroquinolones (Pefloxacin, Ofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, etc.).

The listed medications are taken according to individual regimens, over the course of one and a half to two weeks.

Antibiotics for ureaplasma parvum are prescribed for 2-2.5 weeks, since this type of pathogen is considered more pathogenic, unlike ureaplasma urealyticum. During the entire treatment period, blood composition should be monitored (especially the number of platelets and leukocytes). The most popular antibiotic in this situation is Doxycycline: it is prescribed in an amount of 100 mg twice a day. A week after the start of treatment, an analysis is carried out to determine the effectiveness of the therapy.

If for some reason it is not possible to prescribe Doxycycline, then macrolide medications are used.

Antibiotics for ureaplasma urealyticum are prescribed if the pathogen is isolated in an amount of 10 ⁴ CFU/ml or more. In most cases, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used, such as macrolides, tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones. Ureaplasma urealyticum is especially sensitive to the action of Azithromycin - this medication can be found in pharmacies under the names Sumamed, Azitrox, etc. The duration of therapy for two sexual partners is up to 14 days.

Antibiotics used for ureaplasma primarily inhibit the ability of the pathogenic microorganism to reproduce. Most of these drugs actively affect the following flora:

• gonococcal infection and enterobacteria;
• streptococcal and staphylococcal infection;
• chlamydia and salmonella;
• mycoplasma and ureaplasma;
• spirochetes, klebsiella.

Antibiotics belonging to the frothinolone group inhibit DNA gyrase and topoisomerase, altering DNA synthesis processes: this action allows stopping the development of pathogenic flora.

If ureaplasma shows resistance to first-generation quinoline drugs, then fluoroquinolone drugs are prescribed. They successfully cope with mycobacteria, mycoplasma, pneumococci. Alternatively, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides or macrolide antibiotics can be used.

About 70% of the active components of tetracycline drugs used for ureaplasma are absorbed in the digestive system. The active components spread throughout the body, penetrating tissues, liquid media, and through the placental layer to the fetus. Antibiotics from the tetracycline group leave the body mainly with urine and feces unchanged.

The absorption of antibiotics for ureaplasma largely depends on the type of medication and dosage form, and on the ratio of drug intake to food intake.

Macrolides accumulate in large quantities in plasma and tissues. They are easily distributed throughout the body, penetrating microbial cells and breaking down in the liver. The half-life may vary depending on the specific drug: however, this period can be a minimum of 60 minutes, and a maximum of up to 55 hours. Insufficient renal function does not affect the half-life.

The absorption of fluoroquinolone drugs begins in the digestive system immediately after taking the tablet. After 120 minutes, the maximum possible concentration of active components is detected in the blood plasma. Excretion occurs through the kidneys, and only in small quantities - with feces.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (except norfloxacin) tend to accumulate in the body. Different representatives of this group have different degrees of decomposition, but the greatest decomposition processes occur with the drug Pefloxacin. At least 50% of fluoroquinolones are excreted from the body within 3-14 hours (sometimes up to 20 hours).

What antibiotics are used to treat ureaplasma?

Antibiotics related to tetracyclines are taken after meals or with food. Adult patients take an average of 100 mg of tetracycline per day: this amount should be divided into 3-4 doses.

How many days should you take antibiotics for ureaplasma?

The duration of antibiotic treatment for ureaplasma may vary among patients, depending on the test results and how the disease progresses. On average, treatment lasts 7-14 days, and both partners undergo treatment - for example, both husband and wife.

• Doxycycline is taken for an average of 10 days.
• Aminoglycoside antibiotics are taken on average from seven to ten days.
• Treatment with Clarithromycin lasts from seven to fourteen days.
• It is advisable to take erythromycin for a week.
• Azithromycin is taken once.

Tetracycline therapy should be carried out simultaneously with certain changes in nutrition: tetracyclines should not be taken in combination with dairy products.

Macrolides are taken 2 hours after meals or an hour before meals. Fluoroquinolones are taken between meals.

During treatment, it is necessary to drink relatively a lot of liquid – 1.5 liters of water or even more.

The doctor may suggest several treatment regimens for ureaplasma, which are selected individually. Most often, one antibiotic is taken, less often - two at the same time.

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Antibiotics for ureaplasma in women

What antibiotics can women take for ureaplasma? Here, much depends again on the specific situation. When selecting antibiotics, the attending physician looks at a number of accompanying criteria. Thus, you should pay attention to whether the disease is chronic and how the body reacts to certain drugs. After all, antibiotics can cause a number of side effects, so people with increased sensitivity to some components of the drug should be especially careful.

So, pregnancy can be the very obstacle to taking certain antibiotics. And finally, you need to select a successful combination with other drugs. Based on this, you can make some kind of prognosis and select effective treatment. Basically, such drugs as Vilprafen are prescribed. It has one of the active substances that quickly relieves a person from the impending problem. Unidox Solutab is also effective. But these drugs are given only as an example, taking antibiotics for ureaplasma on your own is strictly prohibited.

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Antibiotics for ureaplasma in men

The drugs of choice for treating men with ureaplasma are Azithromycin and Doxycycline. These drugs can be purchased in pharmacies under different names, for example: Apo-Doxy, Medomycin, Doxal, Unidox-Solutab, Vibramycin, Sumamed, Azitrox, etc.

Antibiotics for ureaplasma are selected taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen. Additionally, antifungal drugs, vitamins and immunomodulators may be prescribed.

If ureaplasmosis occurs without complications, then tetracycline antibiotics are taken for 7-14 days.

If you choose a macrolide antibiotic, then most often you choose tablets such as Erythromycin or Sumamed. Erythromycin shows good activity against ureaplasma, and Sumamed is better accepted by the body, causing a minimum of side effects.

If ureaplasmosis is severe and prolonged, then Clarithromycin is administered intravenously with an isotonic sodium chloride solution.

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Antibiotic for ureaplasma during pregnancy

Pregnancy is not considered the best period for treating ureaplasmosis, since most antibiotics are contraindicated during this period. For example, tetracycline drugs easily cross the placenta and can accumulate in the fetus's tissues, which can later lead to disturbances in the formation of the baby's skeletal system.

Most of the drugs of the macrolide group are also not prescribed to pregnant patients. The negative effect of Clarithromycin tablets on the fetus has been experimentally proven. Such common drugs as Midecamycin and Roxithromycin are not used during pregnancy due to the lack of sufficient pharmacological studies.

Josamycin, Spiramycin and Erythromycin are considered to be relatively safe antibiotics for ureaplasma during pregnancy.

Fluoroquinolones are contraindicated for pregnant patients.

Contraindications to the use of antibiotics for ureaplasma

The main contraindication for the use of antibiotics for ureaplasma is the increased likelihood of an allergy to the drug. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the presence of other contraindications:

• insufficient liver function;
• insufficient renal function;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• systemic lupus erythematosus;
• childhood;
• leukopenia.

Caution should be exercised in treating ureaplasma with antibiotics if the patient is simultaneously taking hepatotoxic medications.

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Side effects of antibiotics for ureaplasma

Antibiotics, especially strong ones, can have a number of side effects. Of course, a patient who is prescribed antibiotics for ureaplasma will not experience all the side effects, and may not experience them at all. However, the likelihood of their occurrence should be taken into account and one should be prepared for them.

• Dyspeptic symptoms, inflammatory processes in the oral mucosa, enterocolitis, fungal infections of the digestive system, deterioration of liver function.
• Fungal infections of the external genitalia, thrush, balanitis.
• Deterioration of hair condition, change in nail plate color, itchy skin rashes, dermatitis, vasculitis.
• Relapse of chronic bronchial asthma, difficulty breathing, bronchospasm.
• Joint pain, joint swelling, muscle pain.
• Allergy, exacerbation of autoimmune processes.
• Anemia, leukopenia, eosinophilia.
• Dizziness, twitching of the muscles of the lower extremities, apathy, paresthesia.
• Hearing loss.
• Changes in thyroid function.

Overdose

When taking a single dose of antibiotics in excess of ureaplasma, symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and vomiting most often occur. In addition, side effects may intensify and worsen.

If characteristic symptoms of overdose are observed, it is necessary to stop taking the antibiotic, provide treatment according to the existing painful symptoms. In most cases, hemodialysis is not the procedure of choice.

If an antibiotic for ureaplasma was taken orally, it is advisable to induce vomiting, wash out the stomach and intestines (give an enema), and then offer the patient several tablets of activated charcoal or other enterosorbents.

Interactions with other drugs

Tetracycline antibiotics reduce the prothrombin index of blood plasma. This may lead to a forced reduction in the dosage of anticoagulants in patients who are additionally treated with such drugs.

It is recommended to avoid the combined use of penicillin and tetracycline drugs due to the impairment of their bactericidal properties.

The absorption of oral antibiotics may be impaired when taken in combination with antacids containing aluminum, magnesium or calcium. Combination with iron preparations is also not recommended, as this may affect the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment.

Increased renal toxicity may occur when several groups of antibiotics are used.

Many antibiotics used for ureaplasmosis cannot be prescribed while taking oral contraceptives, since in such a case the effectiveness of the latter is impaired.

You should not independently adjust the treatment regimen prescribed by your doctor, as this will directly affect the effectiveness of the treatment of ureaplasmosis.

Storage conditions for antibiotics for ureaplasma

As a rule, almost all antibiotic tablets against ureaplasma are stored in specially designated places, where moisture and direct sunlight are guaranteed to not get in, and where children cannot access them. The recommended temperature for preserving the drugs is from +18 to +25°C, so you should not store antibiotics in close proximity to heating devices and radiators.

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Best before date

The average shelf life of most antibiotics used for ureaplasma is 2 to 3 years. A more precise shelf life of tablets or other dosage forms is indicated on the box or blister pack in which the drug is dispensed. Be sure to pay attention to the date of manufacture of the medication, since expired and improperly stored drugs should never be used.

Effective antibiotic against ureaplasma

One of the most popular antibiotics for ureaplasma is Minolexin. This drug belongs to the tetracycline group and is fully suitable for the treatment of ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis.

Minolexin has an intracellular antibacterial effect, is able to concentrate inside inflammatory foci, has an anti-inflammatory effect, and is also suitable for short-term use.

Minolexin should be taken after meals with water. The dosage of the drug is one capsule of 100 g or two capsules of 50 g every 12 hours. The duration of treatment is from seven to ten days.

Can ureaplasma be resistant to all antibiotics? Doctors say that this is impossible in principle. Often, when determining the sensitivity of ureaplasma to antibiotic therapy, the laboratory tests only those antibiotics that are available. In this case, the pathogenic microorganism can indeed show resistance to all drugs listed in the laboratory list. What can be done in such a situation and how to choose the "right" antibiotic? There are two options: ask the laboratory to conduct an extended test for ureaplasma sensitivity, or take tests in another laboratory.

Treatment of ureaplasma without antibiotics

Since sometimes treatment for ureaplasma does not give the expected effect (for various reasons), many patients resort to using folk recipes. Folk healers today offer a lot of remedies that should get rid of this problem - ureaplasmosis. For example:

• tincture of succession, alder cones, chamomile and licorice rhizome;
• infusion of yarrow, thyme, birch buds, rhizome of leuzea;
• infusion of orthilia secunda and wintergreen;
• douching with oak bark infusion;
• Kuril tea;
• garlic, sea buckthorn oil.

However, traditional medicine is extremely skeptical about such treatment - and for good reason. The fact is that the use of folk methods of treatment can lead to a worsening of the condition: time will be wasted, which is of great importance for the successful fight against the disease. Ureaplasmosis can give a large number of complications if it is not treated in time. This is infertility, complicated pregnancy, premature birth, inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs. Therefore, all doctors unequivocally recommend: if laboratory diagnostics indicate the need for treatment, then it should be carried out using traditional methods, using antibiotics for ureaplasma.