Can you use antibiotics long term for chronic respiratory disease?

Antibiotics (like azithromycin) can sometimes be prescribed long-term to patients with chronic respiratory diseases. This is to try to reduce the number of flare-ups of conditions such as asthma or bronchiectasis. In this case the antibiotic is not used to treat an active infection, but rather to keep bacterial colonization under control. This is when bacteria are lining the airways and can sometimes induce an immune response but not actively multiply as quickly as in an acute infection.
Therefore, the long-term antibiotic carries more of an immune modulatory effect which helps reduce the number of exacerbations (flare-ups).
Normally, the most commonly prescribed antibiotic in this case is azithromycin, usually one tablet three times per week, for a few months in winter or even longer.
The benefits need to be balanced against the potential risks, as long term antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance and also there may be some other complications (such as cardiac changes - the antibiotic affecting the heart). Therefore it is very important to discuss such a treatment with your doctor, to understand and manage the risks versus benefits.
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[@ehdrew5460]

Thank you Dr. for explaining. I have bronchiectasis and started taking Azithro for 3 times a week.

[@justinejanerebollos3629]

How about those people have Rheumatic heart desease that need to take sumapen antibiotic twice a does it make bacteria streptucoccus resistance please answer and help me sir make a video for it.

[@user-jp8yv5rd4p]

You don't address the destruction of the gut biome which is essential for good immunity.

[@Jesusmysavinggrace]

Hi Doctor, I heard that asthma comes from strep and that there is an allergy in the body. We must figure out what asthmatic people are allergic to in order to take the food elements always. Secondly for me I get very phlegmy…and my noise más gets stuffy, why is this?

[@nellykelly7755]

same with me :( im asthmatic and easily gets respi infection. bronchoscopy and everything was done. we should avoid the foods that flares us up. i hope you are well

[@Jesusmysavinggrace]

Hi Doctor why do I get a stuffy nose at times and why do I have phlegm? Could it be the powered puffer I take? Symbricot? It works very well but I get phlegm all the time. Thank you 🙏

[@kristidavi]

250mg Azithromycin 3 consecutive days per week?

[@user-jp8yv5rd4p]

What was your experience with this? More info please.

[@ehdrew5460]

@@user-jp8yv5rd4p bronchiectasis

[@damiettes7140]

Why not immunize these patients a shot of Prevnar 20?