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Vaginal yeast infections are a common side effect of some antibiotics because they can cause an overgrowth of normal body organisms such as yeast. This can be avoided by daily consumption of “live culture” yogurt (available at any grocery store) while undergoing antibiotic therapy.
Symptoms usually lessen two to three days after starting oral antibiotic treatment. However, patients need to continue taking the remainder of their medication. Unless all of the bacteria are completely killed, the bacteria can change into another form and produce symptoms again. Furthermore, the change (mutation) of the bacteria increases the risk of being infected by bacteria that are more difficult to kill with antibiotics. This is known as antibiotic resistance, and it is a worldwide healthcare concern. Antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria already exist and new ones are created daily. Patients can help to slow the creation of resistant strains by:
- Finishing all antibiotic medications prescribed, even if symptoms stop. This includes not missing or skipping doses. Blood levels of the antibiotic must stay within a high enough range to kill bacteria.
- Avoiding some "antibacterial" soaps and cleansers. Choose products with bleach, alcohol, ammonia or hydrogen peroxide, which kill bacteria without promoting resistance.
- Immunization. Many bacterial infections can be prevented through immunization. Patients should discuss the options with their physicians. Specifically, patients with chronic conditions and those over the age of 60 should receive the pneumococcal vaccine.
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