Bacterial infections among the elderly population are surprisingly common. In many cases, with suppressed or depressed immune systems, the complications of bacterial infection can lead to adverse health outcomes, even life threatening. If you, or someone you know, suffers from a bacterial infection, it is important to seek medical attention early so as to ascertain the strain of bacteria and obtain medications appropriate for treatment.
For elderly patients who prolong medical attention for a bacterial infection, there are significant health risks of concern. When the bacterial infection is proliferating, even drug-resistant, there is a need to manage that infection with powerful antibiotic therapy. With many senior adults often failing to comply with treatment, physicians are, today, utilizing antibiotic injections as an effective means of treatment.
In terms of injectable antibiotic therapy, one of the most common selections involves a drug known as Unasyn. As a semi-synthetic antibiotic, Unasyn injections provide a powerful dose of therapy, especially to senior adults who suffer from a drug-resistant strain of bacteria. While it can be administered by IV, in many senior adults, it is administered by intramuscular injection in the physician’s office often only requiring one to three injections, one each day.
When obtaining an injection of Unasyn from your physician, you can expect there will be some side effects. As with most powerful antibiotic therapies, the side effects will include gastrointestinal pain, nausea and vomiting, and even diarrhea. It is important to note that the use of Unasyn is considered a health risk to those patients who require prolonged therapy. Specifically, there can be a risk of hearing impairment associated with use.
Unasyn can be utilized in children over the age of one but dosing regimens may be different and intravenous use should never exceed a 14 day period. In addition, as a Category B drug, Unasyn can be utilized in women who are pregnant, or may become pregnant.
One of the greatest health risks associated with Unasyn, or any other powerful antibiotic therapy, involves the development of diarrhea. Often, when not effectively managed, diarrhea can lead to bloody stools, severe stomach pain and even fever. Because these symptoms are quite pronounced, there is a tendency for many senior adults to choose not to proceed with subsequent injections. Without proper antibiotic therapy, however, there is a risk for even greater health complications, often leading to hospital admission.
As with any treatment options for drug-resistant bacterial infections, it is important to understand the risks and benefits of the drugs your physician recommends. In many cases, especially for senior adults, the use of Unasyn is administered as an intramuscular injection in the physician’s office. As a senior adult, if your physician has recommended Unasyn, it is important to consider the injection and then to follow-up for any additional injections despite the risks for diarrhea and other side effects. However, when diarrhea and bloody stool become quite significant, ask your physician about ways in which to manage those side effects until your antibiotic therapy is complete.
