Are broad-spectrum antiinfectives more prone to cause "superinfections"?

Question

I just want to be sure that if a patient is on a broad spectrum like Amoxicillin, the health care provider will be on a higher alert for superinfection than, if the patient were on a gram negative antiinfective such as gentamicin.

Answer 1

Whether or not it's a broad spectrum antibiotic has little to do with the potential to cause "superinfections". Amoxicillin is pretty low on the food chain as far as antibiotics go, and many bacteria can be or become resistant to it. Depending on what disease they're trying to treat, Amoxicillin can be the best choice (for instance: Strep Throat). Gentamicin is only effective against certain gram negative organisms, such as E. coli, which causes urinary tract infections. Gentamicin would usually only be given after a culture is performed with tests to ensure that it is susceptible to the drug.

In order to prevent superbugs, all doctors have a lab perform cultures with sensitivity tests to be sure the antibiotic works against that strain. Doctors will usually follow up care of the patient, and every hospital is required to have an infection control committee which keeps an eye on all bugs with unusual resistances.

As a patient, the best way to prevent resistant infections is to always finish the antibiotics your doctor gives you, even if you're feeling better. If a bug is a little bit resistant, you want to be sure to kill it rather than just weaken it and let it grow back.

Answer 2

Amoxicillin (INN) or amoxycillin (former BAN) is a moderate-spectrum β-lactam antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections caused by susceptible microorganisms. It is usually the drug of choice within the class because it is better absorbed, following oral administration, than other beta-lactam antibiotics. Amoxicillin is susceptible to degradation by β-lactamase-producing bacteria, and so may be given with clavulanic acid to decrease its susceptibility (see below). It is currently marketed by GlaxoSmithKline under the trade name Amoxil.

Adverse drug reactions
Common adverse drug reactions (ADRs) for the β-lactam antibiotics include: diarrhea, nausea, rash, urticaria, superinfection (including candidiasis).

Infrequent ADRs include: fever, vomiting, erythema, dermatitis, angioedema, pseudomembranous colitis.

Pain and inflammation at the injection site is also common for parenterally-administered β-lactam antibiotics

hope this helps