Infection... best antibiotics?

**tadpoleboyy** · 04-12-2008, 08:07 PM

My last inject was on thursday, and right now, my delt is a bit swollen, more than it ever has been for any other injection. I did everything fine, but im worried i may have an infection. There isnt really any red around it (yet), and it doesnt feel any hotter to the touch than my other shoulder (which is fine). There is some pain, but not much. So im going to keep my eye on it. My question is-

How long does it take for cellulitis to develope / before oral antibiotics are not enough? Based on experience, of course.

Also, i have cephalexin, penicillin V potassium, and azithromycin (Zpak) on hand. Can i use all of these if this is an infection? Can they be mixed, or used back to back? Let me know what kinda stuff docs have prescribed u all to for infections... Thanks

**MuscleScience** · 04-12-2008, 08:08 PM

keflex killed my staph infection in its tracts.

**Big** · 04-12-2008, 08:09 PM

cephalexin would most likely be prescribed for that type of infection.

**tadpoleboyy** · 04-12-2008, 08:10 PM

what was you dose/ regime? I want to take as little as possible, so i guess met me know what kinda doses and how man days your doc put you all on too.

**MuscleScience** · 04-12-2008, 08:12 PM

750 mg twice a day I believe

**Big** · 04-12-2008, 08:15 PM

I've never had that type of infection, I've just studied what to do if/when it happens.
Here is a link with some good info:
http://antibiotics.emedtv.com/cephal...in-dosage.html

**tadpoleboyy** · 04-12-2008, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by Big

I've never had that type of infection, I've just studied what to do if/when it happens.
Here is a link with some good info:
http://antibiotics.emedtv.com/cephal...in-dosage.html

thanks bud. Ive had a prior cephalexin script @ 500mg 4x day for 5 days, which is a bit off compared to what that site says. I wonder how much of a difference it makes. f'n infections. This is one reason i like long esters, less pinning = less chance of this.

**Big** · 04-12-2008, 08:27 PM

If you don't have a refill, you can order fish-flex from online pet stores, it's the same stuff. I always keep some on hand just in case.

**tadpoleboyy** · 04-12-2008, 08:31 PM

yea, i just went to the pet store today, but no fish flex, i found a wide variety of other antibiotics, but all are in liquid forms with no doses listed (of the actual drug, per fish serving) What is a good site? Cheaper than human grade?

**Big** · 04-12-2008, 08:34 PM

just google fish-flex, I haven't ordered in almost a year, so I'm not sure where is the best now.

**ecto9** · 04-12-2008, 10:50 PM

Amazon's got it. Best price I could find...

**rhino1** · 04-12-2008, 11:53 PM

Omfg......do Not Take Random Antibiotics................

YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF A SUPERINFECTION.....certain antibiotics work for certain bacteria.....

If you take any antibiotics at least take a BROAD SPECTRUM.

Granted it is most likely common staph aureus but what you guys are talking about doing is why we now have MRSA(methacillian resistant staph aureus), VRE(vancomycin resistant enterococi), etc.

GO TO YOUR DOCTOR.

**rhino1** · 04-12-2008, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by tadpoleboyy

thanks bud. Ive had a prior cephalexin script @ 500mg 4x day for 5 days, which is a bit off compared to what that site says. I wonder how much of a difference it makes. f'n infections. This is one reason i like long esters, less pinning = less chance of this.

USE ALCOHOL

**BlackWidow** · 04-13-2008, 12:04 AM

Of the 3 choices you gave, I would go with the Azithromycin. Penicillin is most effective against Gram -ve bugs and cephalexine which is a 3rd generation cephalosporin i think also. So, the only one effective against Staph is azithromycin. If the infection is severe, I suggest Vancomycin (I mean by sever, a life threatining one)...

**jsncs** · 04-13-2008, 05:21 AM

Best antibiotic choice for this is Cephalexin (Keflex).

Typical dosing regimen is 500mg, 4 x a day for 7-10 days accompanied by 1-2 grams of rocephin injection.

Some do not need the rocephin but we usually give it anyways as a kickstart until the keflex starts to work.

Another option is:

Erythromycin 500mg 4 x a day for 7-10 days

More severe cases with doctor supervision by this point (hopefully) gets you in the augmentin or azithromycin arena.

If you do the azith on your own, you need to do a minimum of 5 days, 250 mg each day.

I treat this stuff all the time. No, I am not a doctor but I am in the medical field, currently overseas.

Best way to avoid this stuff is to properly clean you skin, use clean gear and make sure you are injecting in a proper site, deep into the muscle. Too many fools do not get in the muscle, they use wrong length needle.

Proper needle length should be a minimum of 1.25 inches for a deep IM (intramuscular) injection. This applies to the delt, quads and glutes.

If this injection protocol is followed you will avoid cellulitis, pain/soreness, swelling and redness.

**Big** · 04-13-2008, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by rhino1

Omfg......do Not Take Random Antibiotics................

YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF A SUPERINFECTION.....certain antibiotics work for certain bacteria.....

If you take any antibiotics at least take a BROAD SPECTRUM.

Granted it is most likely common staph aureus but what you guys are talking about doing is why we now have MRSA(methacillian resistant staph aureus), VRE(vancomycin resistant enterococi), etc.

GO TO YOUR DOCTOR.

who told him to take random antibiotics?

**Merc..** · 04-13-2008, 07:35 AM

Yea , you do need to make sure you are using the correct ANTI .... with infections I always like to play it safe and have a doc take a look... Infections are no joke !!!!!

Merc.

**tadpoleboyy** · 04-13-2008, 12:40 PM

i started the z pak to be on the safe side. My injection procedure is by the book, and yes, i do use Isopropyl alcohol, thanks for that tip. Also, the reason we have MRSA and VRE is not from random dudes treating injection infections. Its from a very complex variety of practices: antibiotic overuse in livestock, runoff into our water systems, over prescription by doctors, improper use and not following directions. I just read a scientific paper detailing how the cycling of one main antibiotic one year and using a different one the next year in hospitals reduced such resistant strains significantly. Hospitals are a huge breeding ground for them.

**tadpoleboyy** · 04-13-2008, 10:41 PM

swelling is down. Never really got red or hot at the site, so i either caught it very early, or it was just a botched inject. I thought i felt the needle peirce something weird while going in, could it have been a hematoma from a blood vessel? Or do those turn nasty purple? I know in the past i have pushed thru many blood vessels, i can sort of feel it, and know for sure when red squirts out...

anyway, as they say, better safe than sorry.

**Chubbosaurus** · 07-20-2008, 06:18 AM

I know this is old but I thought I'd throw this in for whatever it's worth.

I've had two infections in the last two months and went to two different doctors. Both of them prescribed Cipro and Bactrim.

**TranscriptionFactor** · 07-20-2008, 01:15 PM

Best answer is by Jsncs above. BTW J - are you a corpsman/medic?

Dont usually need Rocephin thats for more serious stuff. Keflex is first line. Dont start Abx unless you really need to - red, hot, painful, worsening. If start, FInISh the course.

If abcess forms (hard lump) - need Incision and Drainage - go to ER or doc.

Hard, red (wood barky) skin is cellulitis - no I&D required, just Abx, orals usually enough.

If you follow good sterile technique you should Never get any infections - unless gear is contaminated or perhaps you are a diabetic.

Cheers

**Chubbosaurus** · 07-20-2008, 02:46 PM

What's the link between diabetes and infections?

**TranscriptionFactor** · 07-20-2008, 05:21 PM

Diabetics are much more prone to getting infections - the higher blood glucose seems to support bacterial growth, as well the immune system is somewhat compromised, and the vascular system is also dysfunctional - poor blood flow means decreased ability to clear a potential infection.

Bad diabetics who have neuropathy in their feet tend to get cuts or scrapes on their feet which they can't feel cause they're numb and then they develop into infections - then they sometimes need amputations....but that's another story.

Too much Type II diabetes in this country b/c people eat too much and are too sedentary. Diabetes is a real killer, but with proper glucose control, it can be handled very well.

**TranscriptionFactor** · 07-20-2008, 05:23 PM

(double post - deleted out)

**Deen54** · 07-21-2008, 05:40 AM

Cephalexin (keflex)...that's what the doc prescribed for me..my first shot
and i got infected..no more glutes for me.. quads now..

glutes only if i got a 1.5 inch needle.

anyway it was keflex 500mg @4 times a day for 7 days.

That's all you will need. it actually was gone in 2 days..but just finish the
course..so they don't become resistant.