The pros and cons of using an antibiotic for pseudomonas treatment are simple, but distinct. One pro is that pseudomonas is an infection caused by bacteria and bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. Another pro is that more than one antibiotic can be used simultaneously to treat the condition. On the other hand, one con of using an antibiotic for pseudomonas treatment is that the bacteria does not respond to most antibiotics. In addition, another con is that even if an antibiotic does work, there is always the chance that the bacteria will ultimately develop a resistance to the medication.
Bacteria are microscopic organisms, some of which can be harmful to the body. Pseudomonas themselves occur because of an opportunistic bacteria normally found in plants, soil and water. The term “opportunistic” means that the bacteria responsible for the condition do not usually affect healthy human beings, but affect those who are sick. Essentially, the bacteria takes advantage of a person with a weakened immune system. Among those who are at the highest risk of acquiring pseudomonas infection are those in hospitals.
Since antibiotics are the usual treatment option for a bacterial infection, using an antibiotic for pseudomonas treatment is typical. In most cases, pseudomonas is treated with a combination of two antibiotics. This increases the chances of the medications treating the condition, since most antibiotics do not have an effect on the bacteria at all. Overall, the limited number of antibiotics that can effectively treat pseudomonas makes the condition a hard one to treat. What increases this difficulty is that bacteria have the ability to become resistant to antibiotics over time.
For example, if a person takes an antibiotic for pseudomonas treatment but the antibiotic does not completely treat the condition, the remaining bacteria can develop a resistance. The next time this infection occurs again, the antibiotic, which worked once before, is useless as a form of treatment. The affected person will then need to try a new antibiotic to treat his or her condition, and with limited antibiotics that work on pseudomonas, this can be hard to accomplish.
Different types of antibiotics that might work for pseudomonas treatment include ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Imipenem, piperacillin-tazobactum and tobramycin are other antibiotics that might work as well. Depending on the medication, as well as on a person’s specific condition, antibiotics can be used in oral form, administered into the veins or applied in topical form. When antibiotics are not enough to treat the condition, a person might need to undergo surgery.