Tetracycline & Urine Infection

Tetracycline is an antibacterial agent belonging to a vast group of antimicrobials collectively known as ‘tetracyclines’ which consists of drugs such as doxycycline, minocycline, oxytertacycline and chlortetracycline. Chlortetracycline was the first drug in the tetracyclines group that was approved for human use in 1948, but is no longer available in market now. Tetracycline has activity against rickettsia, many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, aerobes, anaerobes, and chlamydia so is considered a "broad-spectrum" antibiotics.

Action of Tetracycline

• Tetracycline is a bacteriostatic antibacterial agent that inhibits the growth of bacteria. It interferes with the protein synthesis function of bacterial cells, by binding to 30S type of bacterial ribosome, an important structure involved in protein synthesis in bacterial cells.

Use of Tetracycline in Urinary Infections

• Urinary infections are commonly occurring medical conditions. Infections of the urinary tract are the second most common type of infection occurring in the body. Millions of individuals develop urinary tract infections annually. These infections are usually caused due to bacteria such as E. coli which is the most common agent responsible for urinary infection. Other microbial agents such as mycoplasma and chlamydia are also the culprits behind urinary tract infections, more commonly in young sexually active women. Urinary infections with these causative organisms are treated by using tetracycline, especially in uncomplicated cases not caused by blockages and structural problems or any other health disorder that inflicts damage on urinary function such as diabetes. Patients with urinary infections who respond to treatment with tetracycline show improvement within three to four days of use.

Tetracycline and E. Coli

• Tetracycline is no longer recommended to treat urinary infections that have been caused due to E. coli infection high rates of resistance of this microbe to this drug.

Precautions

• Tetracycline should not be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women as it may affect the baby. Similarly, its use is to be avoided in children younger than eight. Patients taking oral contraceptive pills should inform the doctor about this when prescribed tetracycline for urinary infections, because tetracycline interferes with the action of contraceptive pills and doctors may advise an alternate contraceptive method during the period of use of tetracycline.

Dosage

• It is better to take tetracycline on an empty stomach for better absorption and optimum action. Milk products taken with tetracycline can interfere with its absorption in the body; similarly antacids such as calcium and magnesium salts may result in decreased absorption of tetracycline and make it less effective.

Side Effects

• Tetracycline use may increase the chances of skin reactions when exposed to sunlight (photosensitivity), so exposure to sunlight should be avoided while using this medicine.