about macrodantin an antibiotic

cinci · 07-26-2002, 04:52 PM

is it safe to take macrodantin on a regular basis as a preventive measure against picking up an infection or could it possibly make you resistant against some bacteria's

marmalady · 07-27-2002, 04:23 AM

Hi, Cinci,

It's generallly not a good idea to be on a 'preventive' antibiotic, as it may well make the bacteria resistant to treatment if a raging UTI does develop.

There are different bacteria that can cause a UTI, and the antibiotic used to treat it has to be specific, or 'sensitive' to that bacteria. Here is a post from a while ago, on the steps the doctors take to determine what antibiotic is to be used for a particular bacteria:

The SCI nurses will probably jump in here but basically a UTI is a 'urinary tract infection', an infection in your urethra and/or bladder; also sometimes called 'bladder infections'. Signs and symptoms are cloudy urine, smelly urine, sediment in urine, fever/chills, and autonomic dysreflexia if you are a high para or a quad. Treatment usually consists of a course of antibiotics; the best way to determine which antibiotic is for the doctors to do a urinalysis AND a 'culture and sensitivity'. The urinalysis (UA) tells them if there were white blood cells (WBC) which indicate there is an infection present that your body is trying to fight; red blood cells (RBC), which would indicate bleeding somewhere in your urinary tract, and other things like the pH. This test is usually completed within 24 hours. The culture and sensitivity is done to first culture the bacteria to find out what type it is, and to find out which antibiotics the bacteria are 'sensitive' or 'resistant' to. Lots of times the docs will look at a urinalysis, and say, yeah, there's white blood cells, and give a 'shotgun' antibiotic. We've gotten to the point where we insist on a culture and sensitivity before Matt (my son) starts on antibiotics (this is if he doesn't have any acute symptoms like AD or fever). Folks with indwelling catheters can have bacteria present in their urine - in fact most of them do - called 'colonizing'; but in the absence of any symptoms, it should not be treated; the aim of wiping out all bacteria can actually cause a resistance to the antibiotic being used.

Many doctors will look at the 'urinalysis' first, as it is pretty much immediately available,and will tell them if there are increased white blood cels in the urine. Some will then prescribe an antibiotic and not even wait for the culture. Unless you have a raging infection, with fever, spasms, really cloudy, or smelly urine, it's best to wait for the 'culture and sensitivity' to get back - usually three days - so you can get the antibiotic that will specifically treat that bacteria.

You can do a search on the forums for UTI prevention, and see the many ways there are to help prevent UTI's other than taking medication. In a nutshell, they are -

-Of course, maintaining scrupulous antiseptic procedures when cathing, or taking care of the cath/leg bags.

=Keeping fluid intake high, and sugared drinks like soda to a minimum; the sugar provides 'food' for bacteria to grow!

-Many of the members here take cranberry, either in juice form or in pills, as the acid in the cranberry seems to help prevent bacteria from 'taking hold'.

-Maintaining a healthy diet, to keep your immune system strong in general. Things like excessive drinking, smoking and poor diet can all contribute to bacterial 'invasion' of your system.

If you're having repeated UTI's, talk to your urologist about having a cystoscopy; it could be that you have bladder stones that provide a place in the bladder for bacteria to grow.

Hope this helps!

_____________
Tough times don't last - tough people do.

SCI-Nurse · 07-27-2002, 11:37 AM

Wow! Marmalady has given a wonderful overview. Thanks.
There are still some physicians who have people take a low-dose antibiotic such as Macrodantin (nitrofurantoin) as a preventative. Usually they prescribe 100 mgm at bedtime. Of all the regimens, this is probably the least likely to cause resistant bacteria to form. It is not a broad range antibiotic like, say, Cipro. It is also a low dose which is less likely to cause resistant organisms to form. However, taking any antibiotic, unless needed, has the potential to breed resistant organisms. For some, this kind of dosing has been very beneficial with no adverse effects. (EMK)

BJ · 07-27-2002, 04:57 PM

Marmalady post is correct as well as SCI Nurse. So here's a some non scientific discoveries.
Hubby has taken 100mg macrodantin 2x daily for 30 years. Urologist and SCI doc have both recommended that he stop taking it and he has tried. In the 30 years with a supertube he has never had a bladder or kidney infection. When he did stop for 30 days he started to get an infection the docs told him to go back on and schedule an appointment, by the appt time the infection was gone.

The generic causes major cath plugs and massive amounts of sediment in his urine so he will only take the brand name.

Like I said un scientific but it works for us

TD · 07-27-2002, 05:54 PM

If you are trying to prevent UTIs try taking cranberry supplements. You cannot drink enough cranberry juice (the REAL stuff!!) to get the benefits of a good cranberry supplement. You can find it in most health food stores under a variety of names. I take one called Cranactin which guarantees anti-adherence of bacteria to the bladder and uretral walls which is where most UTIs get started.

Well worth the money and you do not breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria. I have taken it for years and have had one minor UTI in that time.

"And so it begins."

07-26-2002, 04:52 PM	#1
cinci Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 64	about macrodantin an antibiotic is it safe to take macrodantin on a regular basis as a preventive measure against picking up an infection or could it possibly make you resistant against some bacteria's

07-27-2002, 04:57 PM	#4
BJ Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 101	Macrodantin Marmalady post is correct as well as SCI Nurse. So here's a some non scientific discoveries. Hubby has taken 100mg macrodantin 2x daily for 30 years. Urologist and SCI doc have both recommended that he stop taking it and he has tried. In the 30 years with a supertube he has never had a bladder or kidney infection. When he did stop for 30 days he started to get an infection the docs told him to go back on and schedule an appointment, by the appt time the infection was gone. The generic causes major cath plugs and massive amounts of sediment in his urine so he will only take the brand name. Like I said un scientific but it works for us

07-27-2002, 05:54 PM	#5
TD Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA Posts: 649	An alternative to taking macrodantin If you are trying to prevent UTIs try taking cranberry supplements. You cannot drink enough cranberry juice (the REAL stuff!!) to get the benefits of a good cranberry supplement. You can find it in most health food stores under a variety of names. I take one called Cranactin which guarantees anti-adherence of bacteria to the bladder and uretral walls which is where most UTIs get started. Well worth the money and you do not breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria. I have taken it for years and have had one minor UTI in that time. "And so it begins."

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07-27-2002, 04:23 AM	#2
marmalady Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,988	Hi, Cinci, It's generallly not a good idea to be on a 'preventive' antibiotic, as it may well make the bacteria resistant to treatment if a raging UTI does develop. There are different bacteria that can cause a UTI, and the antibiotic used to treat it has to be specific, or 'sensitive' to that bacteria. Here is a post from a while ago, on the steps the doctors take to determine what antibiotic is to be used for a particular bacteria: The SCI nurses will probably jump in here but basically a UTI is a 'urinary tract infection', an infection in your urethra and/or bladder; also sometimes called 'bladder infections'. Signs and symptoms are cloudy urine, smelly urine, sediment in urine, fever/chills, and autonomic dysreflexia if you are a high para or a quad. Treatment usually consists of a course of antibiotics; the best way to determine which antibiotic is for the doctors to do a urinalysis AND a 'culture and sensitivity'. The urinalysis (UA) tells them if there were white blood cells (WBC) which indicate there is an infection present that your body is trying to fight; red blood cells (RBC), which would indicate bleeding somewhere in your urinary tract, and other things like the pH. This test is usually completed within 24 hours. The culture and sensitivity is done to first culture the bacteria to find out what type it is, and to find out which antibiotics the bacteria are 'sensitive' or 'resistant' to. Lots of times the docs will look at a urinalysis, and say, yeah, there's white blood cells, and give a 'shotgun' antibiotic. We've gotten to the point where we insist on a culture and sensitivity before Matt (my son) starts on antibiotics (this is if he doesn't have any acute symptoms like AD or fever). Folks with indwelling catheters can have bacteria present in their urine - in fact most of them do - called 'colonizing'; but in the absence of any symptoms, it should not be treated; the aim of wiping out all bacteria can actually cause a resistance to the antibiotic being used. Many doctors will look at the 'urinalysis' first, as it is pretty much immediately available,and will tell them if there are increased white blood cels in the urine. Some will then prescribe an antibiotic and not even wait for the culture. Unless you have a raging infection, with fever, spasms, really cloudy, or smelly urine, it's best to wait for the 'culture and sensitivity' to get back - usually three days - so you can get the antibiotic that will specifically treat that bacteria. You can do a search on the forums for UTI prevention, and see the many ways there are to help prevent UTI's other than taking medication. In a nutshell, they are - -Of course, maintaining scrupulous antiseptic procedures when cathing, or taking care of the cath/leg bags. =Keeping fluid intake high, and sugared drinks like soda to a minimum; the sugar provides 'food' for bacteria to grow! -Many of the members here take cranberry, either in juice form or in pills, as the acid in the cranberry seems to help prevent bacteria from 'taking hold'. -Maintaining a healthy diet, to keep your immune system strong in general. Things like excessive drinking, smoking and poor diet can all contribute to bacterial 'invasion' of your system. If you're having repeated UTI's, talk to your urologist about having a cystoscopy; it could be that you have bladder stones that provide a place in the bladder for bacteria to grow. Hope this helps! _____________ Tough times don't last - tough people do.

07-27-2002, 11:37 AM	#3
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,336	Wow! Marmalady has given a wonderful overview. Thanks. There are still some physicians who have people take a low-dose antibiotic such as Macrodantin (nitrofurantoin) as a preventative. Usually they prescribe 100 mgm at bedtime. Of all the regimens, this is probably the least likely to cause resistant bacteria to form. It is not a broad range antibiotic like, say, Cipro. It is also a low dose which is less likely to cause resistant organisms to form. However, taking any antibiotic, unless needed, has the potential to breed resistant organisms. For some, this kind of dosing has been very beneficial with no adverse effects. (EMK)