prolonged use of antibiotics?

[Guest guest]

<msmabrry@y...> wrote:

> I have wondered the same thing as Pam. Are we inviting

> resistant bacteria by stopping? One thing that

> disturbs me is that no one has said they have cured

> their infection. Is it possible or am I do we have to

> take antibiotics for the rest of our lives once we

> start?

> Marie

At lymenet you sometimes meet people that are clear and have been off

abx for at least a few years.

Personally, if I ever become asymptomatic I would be likely to

continue at least moderate abx use for another entire year or more. I

agree with Tony on that one. Look at the therapies for TB - 99% of the

Mtb are killed within 2 months, but 4 more months (minimuM) of tx are

dedicated to the attempt to get at holdouts. Infections are all

different, and Mtb has an excellent ability for dormancy which may(?)

exceed that of most bacteria, and may contribute to the necessity of

this protracted therapy... but my personal opinion in this matter

rests on more than just the analogy to Mtb.

Consider a course one might take for an acute infection... one is

asymptomatic during probably the final 2/3 or more of the course. I

agree with Tony that many people with ACIDs have probably stopped abx

too soon.