Sinus infections develop from bacterial, viral or fungal sources that infiltrate the sinus cavity. The most common type of sinus infection results from bacterial infection and is commonly treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics kill all living bacteria in the human body, resulting in a cure for a sinus infection. Depending on your age, usage of antibiotics and sinusitis condition, different antibiotics may be used to treat your condition.
Penicillin
Penicillin is one of the most common antibiotics used to treat a sinus infection. The most commonly prescribed penicillin for a sinus infection is amoxicillin according to Drugs.com. Penicillin is considered a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, killing and prohibiting the growth of harmful bacteria in a particular area of the body. The various types of penicillin may only be used to treat the area they were developed for. Penicillin, like all antibiotics, can only be acquired with a doctor's prescription.
Cephalosporins
Cephalosporins are typically prescribed to people who have developed immunity to penicillins or who are allergic to them. Cephalosporins differs from penicillin because they are considered a wide-spectrum antibiotic. This means they can cover a wide range of different types of infections in different areas of the body. They, too, are used to treat bacterial infections such as a sinus infection. This antibiotic is commonly prescribed in an oral pill form but may also be given in the form of injection in the arm.
Macrolides
Macrolides are considered to be a narrow-spectrum antibiotic and work differently in comparison to others in its class, according to Sinus Infection Help. These antibiotics do not kill the harmful bacteria but instead inhibit the bacteria from multiplying. By prohibiting the bacteria from spreading, this drug enables the body to naturally produce enough white blood cells to ward off and kill the bacteria in the body. This antibiotic is given to people with sinus infections who are highly sensitive to the side effects of other antibiotics.
Fluoroquinolones
Fluoroquinolones are newly developed antibiotics used for people who have built up a strong resistance to common antibiotics. These drugs work by prohibiting growth and killing the bacteria. They are effective at curing sinus infections but can have some extreme side effects such as tendinitis and rupture of tendons. Talk to your doctor if you have any conditions or medical concerns before using this product.
