Bactrim is a combined antibiotic drug that is employed by medical professionals in the treatment of a variety of infections, including ear infections, upper or lower respiratory infections, urinary system infections and other indications. Bactrim contains two antibiotics, which are Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole, in the concentration ratio of 1 to 5, which ensures its adequate effects and combined power in fighting against bacteria.
What Bactrim is prescribed for?
Bactrim has been used for many decades due to its effectiveness and great utility in dealing with numerous infections. However, because it contains two antibiotics, it has relatively more frequent side effects when compared to other antibiotics. This is why it has been less used over a period of time. However, recently, because many bacteria species have become resistant to numerous antibiotics, Bactrim has regained its place among the top antibiotic choices due to its great effectiveness. The combination of Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole act together on various stages of the life cycle of a bacteria, disturbing several very important chemical process that ensure bacterial growth. The bacteria stops growing and is rapidly destroyed by the immune system through white blood cells.
How does Bactrim work precisely to prevent infections from causing severe health damage and cure the disease?
The dual combination of antibiotics included in Bactrim inhibit two stages that exist in the bacterial cell that result in the production of DNA components. New bacterial DNA is needed to make new bacteria in the colony and produce new protein, which is how bacteria grow and spread in the body as the infection is progressing. Folic acid is a chemical that is vital for this process, because two essential DNA components are derived from it. Bactrim inhibits two subsequent phases in the production of folic acid in the bacteria, which leaves bacteria with no supplies of folic acid and inhibits DNA production. This effect strongly blocks bacterial growth and makes them vulnerable to the destructive action of immune cells in the human body. Folic acid also exists in the human body, but people do not produce folic acid, and instead they take it as a vitamin from food. This is why bacteria are very sensitive to folic acid production inhibition in their cells, while the human cells remain unaffected.
Antibiotics – Safety of use
It is very important to take Bactrim only as prescribed but your doctor. It has the potential to cause allergic reactions and relatively frequent side effects because it contains two combined drugs in its formulation. Bactrim is safe and very effective for infections, but precaution needs to be exerted, especially in the elderly, children and individuals with an immune system that is weak due to chronic disease or as a result of long hospitalizations.
