Can someone share with me the rationale and pathophysiology of giving an antibiotic with a corticosteroid for, say, a bacterial infection (maybe sinus, maybe ear)? I ask not only because I'm trying to understand hematology better, but also because I just went to the doc and got a script for this (Prednisone + Azithromycin) because of very swollen lymph nodes in my neck and a suspected ear infection (could be viral, I guess?).
I know corticosteroids decrease inflammation -- how does this affect each type of white blood cell? My lab handbook here says that eosinophil % is decreased in "inflammation and corticosteroid administration" -- this seems counterintuitive to me. I was thinking that they would be increased with inflammation?
So what do corticosteroids decrease, exactly? My doc said it might raise my WBC count, and I don't quite understand that either. I have, in general, been a little confused about infection when I'm learning pathophysiology (in my next-to-last semester of RN school). Having this sickness might help me understand it better, but I'm still confused after reading for an hour. Also, if you give a pt. an antibiotic, I would think you'd want their immune response to continue to be active to fight an infection (unless, say, it was compromising their breathing or something, in which case I can see why a corticosteroid would be helpful). Help!! :)
Corticosteroid first and then continue with Antibiotic first?
or
Antibiotic first and then continue with Corticosteroid
I do think i should start with Corticosteroid first to reduce the swelling part which might block the absorption of antibiotic, using corticosteroid will be making the antibiotic absorb better by the local tissue, is that correct?
I've often fought bronchitis by asking for a short burst of steroids WITHOUT the antibiotic. The steroid - along with my Albuterol - allows me to cough it up & out.
Steroid alone cures me faster than antibiotic alone.
jingliang225
1 Post
Hi, I would love to know with these 2 products?
Which one i should use first?
Corticosteroid first and then continue with Antibiotic first?
or
Antibiotic first and then continue with Corticosteroid
I do think i should start with Corticosteroid first to reduce the swelling part which might block the absorption of antibiotic, using corticosteroid will be making the antibiotic absorb better by the local tissue, is that correct?