Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics

Dysbacteriosis is the most common disorder associated with intestinal microflora. There are quite a few reasons why intestinal microflora may change, but most often dysbacteriosis develops after antibiotics. Currently, antibiotics are used for many bacterial infections, but in addition to pathogenic bacteria, such drugs also destroy beneficial microorganisms that the body needs for normal functioning, as a result of which dysbacteriosis develops.

If it is impossible to avoid antibiotic treatment, then you should take medications that contain live bacteria and help normalize the intestinal microflora.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Causes of dysbacteriosis after antibiotics

Drug therapy is the most common cause of intestinal microflora disorders. Inappropriate prescription of antibiotics, use of low-quality drugs, incorrect dosage, violation of the regimen, prolongation of the course of treatment without special need, self-medication with antibacterial drugs - all this develops resistance to antibacterial drugs, a decrease in beneficial microflora, etc. Different groups of antibiotics affect the intestines differently.

Tetracyclines are destructive to the upper layer and mucous membrane of the intestine, as a result of which favorable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria develop. As a result of taking tetracyclines, the growth of clostridia, staphylococci, and candidal fungi increases.

Aminoglycosides stop the growth of normal microflora.

Aminopenicillins promote the development of staphylococci and streptococci.

Fungicidal antibiotics selectively affect the reproduction of proteus bacteria and lactose-negative Escherichia coli.

Dysbacteriosis can appear even after an individually selected antibiotic, with the correct dosage and indicated course of treatment. Even in this case, it will take at least a month to restore normal microflora.

[ 3 ], [ 4 ]

Symptoms of dysbacteriosis after antibiotics

Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics usually develops in the intestines or genitals.

The disease manifests itself as diarrhea, constipation (or alternation), bloating, itching in the anal area. Symptoms of dysbacteriosis may appear both in the first days of treatment and in the last.

With vaginal dysbacteriosis, there are discharges with a changed color, odor or consistency, itching of the vagina and external genitalia, burning in the urethra, frequent urination, and painful sensations in the lower abdomen may also appear.

If symptoms of dysbacteriosis appear after treatment with antibiotics, you should consult a specialist.

Dysbacteriosis in children after antibiotics

In some childhood illnesses, it is impossible to avoid using antibiotics, but such treatment often leads to serious consequences. Quite often after treatment (or during treatment), children experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, and a deterioration in general health.

Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics in a child manifests itself in stool disorder (it becomes foamy, mushy, liquid, with a strong odor), flatulence, abdominal pain, and fever. Quite often, children begin to feel weak, nauseous, they become lethargic, sleep poorly, and lose their appetite. With dysbacteriosis, the child shows anxiety, begins to be capricious, and in addition, redness and irritation can be seen in the anal area.

Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics requires a competent combination of treatment and diet. To normalize the disturbed intestinal microflora, a long course of restorative therapy is often required. Dysbacteriosis is much easier to prevent, so from the first days of antibacterial therapy it is necessary to take prebiotics.

[ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics in infants

Diarrhea in newborns is especially worth noting, since it most often develops after a woman, while pregnant, has undergone a course of antibacterial therapy without restoring the intestinal flora. In infants, diarrhea leads to dehydration, so you need to consult a pediatrician as soon as possible.

Usually, a child with a disturbed microflora is restless, sleeps poorly due to abdominal pain, which appears approximately two hours after eating. Almost every dysbacteriosis after antibiotics occurs with bloating, severe gas formation, rumbling in the stomach. Due to the fact that intestinal motility is weakened, the baby begins to burp (in some cases, vomiting occurs). Severe development of dysbacteriosis leads to the fact that nutrients are poorly absorbed in the intestine, diarrhea appears (foamy discharge with a sour or putrid odor), the child does not gain weight well.

In some cases, newborns develop constipation, since a lack of bifidobacteria leads to a decrease in intestinal contractile activity.

[ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ]

Vaginal dysbacteriosis after antibiotics

After antibiotics, a woman often develops vaginal dysbacteriosis, since antibacterial drugs destroy not only pathogenic microorganisms, but also beneficial microflora, which is normally present on the mucous membranes of internal organs. When the natural microflora is disrupted, various pathogenic microorganisms begin to actively manifest their activity; fungal bacteria most often begin to multiply in the vagina.

In this case, treatment requires not only taking prebiotics to restore the microflora, but also taking antifungal agents. Bacteria in the vagina provoke inflammatory processes in the cervix and vaginal walls, resulting in increased discharge, pain, itching, and burning in the genitals (painful intercourse is also possible). The very first symptom of impaired vaginal microflora is insufficient lubrication during sexual arousal of a woman. In addition, pathogenic microorganisms can penetrate the uterus and cause inflammation of its inner layer (endometrium), fallopian tubes, or ovaries.

Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics can cause inflammation of the bladder or urethra.

[ 11 ], [ 12 ]

Intestinal dysbacteriosis after antibiotics

Today, antibiotics are used in medicine to treat almost all diseases, but effective treatment has a rather severe side effect - disruption of the body's microflora. Most often, dysbacteriosis after antibiotics develops in the intestines. However, the severity of the disease is influenced by several factors.

First of all, people with chronic gastrointestinal diseases are more susceptible to the development of dysbacteriosis. In this case, antibiotic treatment only worsens the situation, since the intestinal microflora has already changed due to the disruption of digestion processes.

Taking antibacterial drugs longer than the prescribed period can also greatly affect the intestinal microflora. Sometimes a person independently extends the treatment period in order to finally destroy the infection. In this case, the longer the antibiotic is taken, the more the natural intestinal microflora is disrupted.

Frequent courses of antibacterial therapy also have a negative effect on the intestinal microflora. In some particularly severe cases, the patient's condition requires this type of treatment, but when a person decides to treat themselves with such drugs, especially at the first signs of a cold, dysbacteriosis is almost impossible to avoid.

Intestinal microflora is capable of restoring itself, but this takes time, and if antibacterial drugs are taken too often, the body does not have enough time to recover, as a result of which there are fewer and fewer beneficial bacteria, and pathogenic bacteria receive optimal conditions for reproduction.

Special attention should be paid to nutrition during the course of antibiotics. You should include more grain and fermented milk products, fruits and vegetables in your menu. Dietary fiber and fermented milk products contribute to the development of natural microflora, and if you do not consume them, dysbacteriosis develops faster and is more severe.

[ 13 ], [ 14 ]

Diagnosis of dysbacteriosis after antibiotics

Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics or for other reasons is diagnosed by a gastroenterologist. The main method for diagnosing dysbacteriosis is a bacteriological examination of feces.

If necessary, the specialist may prescribe several additional research methods:

• contrast radiographic examination;
• rectoscopy (examination of the intestine up to 30 cm with a special device);
• colonoscopy (examination of the intestine up to 1 m using a special device)

In case of dysbacteriosis, in addition to stool analysis, PCR, mass spectral analysis and analysis of parietal microflora are usually prescribed.

To determine dysbacteriosis, as well as its nature, it is necessary to determine which bacteria and in what quantities have multiplied in the intestines.

Currently, two types of research are mainly used: bacteriological and analysis of microflora metabolites.

Bacteriological testing can detect up to 10% of microorganisms inhabiting the intestinal microflora. The results of the test are obtained in a week (this is the time required for bacteria to grow in a special environment and their type to be determined).

Metabolic testing involves determining the substances released by microorganisms during their life processes. This method is quite simple and effective, and in addition, the results can be found out in a few hours.

When diagnosing dysbacteriosis, it is important to remember that each person is individual, and the intestinal microflora depends on age, diet, and season. Therefore, the diagnosis is not made only on the basis of tests, but requires additional research methods.

[ 15 ], [ 16 ], [ 17 ]

Treatment of dysbacteriosis after antibiotics

Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics is usually treated with special medications that contain beneficial bacteria.

Prebiotics and probiotics are commonly used.

Prebiotics enter the body with food and are not digested in the intestines, but such substances are an excellent nutrient medium for microflora. Such substances are found in large quantities in onions, garlic, corn, and dairy products. There are also special preparations containing prebiotics (Normze, Prebio, etc.).

Probiotics contain live bacteria that do not colonize the intestines, but suppress the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and restore the natural balance in the intestines. However, in severe cases of dysbacteriosis, such drugs are ineffective and require the use of antimicrobial drugs.

How to treat dysbacteriosis after antibiotics?

Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics can be treated with intestinal antiseptics, which suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria, practically without affecting the bacteria important for the intestines.

Intetrix is a derivative of three quinolones and is prescribed in a course of no more than 5 days.

Nifuroxside belongs to the nitrofuran group and is usually prescribed as a weekly course of 200 mg four times a day.

Drugs for dysbacteriosis after antibiotics

Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics, especially in severe form, is subject to drug treatment. Antibacterial drugs for the restoration of intestinal microflora are prescribed only after the nature of dysbacteriosis has been established, and also only after an analysis of the sensitivity of microorganisms.

• For staphylococci and enterococci, drugs from the macrolide group (oleandomycin) and semi-synthetic penicillins (amoxicillin) are prescribed.
• For E. coli, derivatives of nalidixic acid, nitrofurans (antiseptics), and sulfonamides (phthalazole) show greater effectiveness.
• For Pseudomonas aeruginosa, polymyxin, aminoglycosides (kanamycin).
• For candidomycosis - lamisil, amphotericin.
• In case of dysbacteriosis, bacteriophages are also used – viruses that act only on one type of bacteria. Such drugs can be used together with antibiotics or as an alternative to treatment. Bacteriophages are taken orally or used as an enema. The modern pharmaceutical market offers coliproteus, staphylococcus, pseudomonas, proteus bacteriophages.

Dysbacteriosis leads to hypovitaminosis, for the treatment of which vitamin complexes (multitabs) are prescribed. Also, with dysbacteriosis, immune protection is disrupted, therefore, immunomodulators are used in treatment, which not only help to increase immunity, but also quickly restore intestinal microflora. Usually, herbal remedies (tincture of echinacea, propolis) are used for this purpose.

[ 18 ], [ 19 ], [ 20 ]

Nutrition for dysbacteriosis after antibiotics

To maintain the natural balance of intestinal microflora, it is important to consume cereals and fermented milk products, vegetables, and fruits, which contain dietary fiber, amino acids, lacto- and bifidobacteria.

When treating dysbacteriosis, it is necessary to adhere to the basic principles of nutrition:

• eating at strictly defined times;
• the diet should include dietary fiber and fermented milk products;
• The diet is individual; if you are intolerant to a product, it must be immediately excluded from your diet.

To normalize the intestinal microflora, it is important to include in your diet products containing poly- and oligosaccharides (cereals, fruits, vegetables). These substances serve as a source of energy for bifidobacteria.

Breast milk contains oligosaccharides, so in case of dysbacteriosis in infants it is important to continue breastfeeding.

Zucchini, carrots, oatmeal, onions and garlic are also a source of oligosaccharides. Many berries, apples, bananas and apricots contain fructooligosaccharides. Dandelion roots, legumes and chicory are rich in polysaccharides. To get the daily norm of saccharides, you need to eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruits.

Polysaccharides, also known as dietary fiber, are necessary for the intestines as a source of nutrition for bacteria, to improve motility, and they also act as natural enterosorbents.

• For dysbacteriosis caused by staphylococci, it is recommended to increase the consumption of raspberries, strawberries, and rowan berries.
• In case of Proteus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, garlic, onions, radishes, apples, and apricots have a suppressive effect.
• The altered E. coli is suppressed by pomegranates, bell peppers, and onions.
• Carrots and lingonberries help with candidiasis.

Fermented milk products (kefir, acidophilus, activia, kumis, etc.) can be used as a source of probiotics.

Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics has become increasingly common lately, since almost all diseases are treated with antibacterial agents. In order to reduce the negative effect of such drugs, it is necessary to maintain the intestinal microflora from the first days of treatment with the help of special drugs and a balanced diet.