Cotrimoxazole (a combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) is an antibiotic used for the treatment of a wide range of bacterial infections. It is commonly prescribed for:
- Urinary tract infections
- Respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis
- Acute otitis media (middle ear infection) in children and adults
- Shigellosis (an intestinal infection caused by the Shigella bacteria)
- Prostatitis (infection of the prostate)
- Gastrointestinal infections including traveler’s diarrhea
- Pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis jiroveci (particularly in people with weakened immune systems)
- Toxoplasmosis (an infection caused by a parasite, especially in immunocompromised patients)
- Brucellosis (when used as part of combination therapy)
- Cholera
- Plague
- Prophylaxis (prevention) of urinary tract infections, especially in people with recurrent infections
- Other bacterial infections as determined by your healthcare provider
Cotrimoxazole works by blocking two critical steps in the synthesis of bacterial DNA, making it effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria.[1][2][4]
Leave a Reply