Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is It Wise To Give These To Someone Of That Age And Is There An Alternative?
Posted on
Mon, 21 Sep 2020
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 21 Sep 2020
Answered on
Thu, 19 Jun 2025
Last reviewed on
Question : hello. My mother is almost 93 with advanced dementia and has a UTI. The doctor has put her on two separate antibiotics for at least a week. Both of them are potentially known to affect heart rhythm. They are Amoxicillin and ciproflaxin. Is it wise to give these to someone of that age and is there an alternative?
Brief Answer:
She needs to take them both.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
I see the photo you attached and it is an uroculture an examination of urine done in order to choose the best antibiotic which works on the organisms causing an infection.
There are actually two organisms found in your mother's urine which are causing the infection.
According to the uroculture results unfortunately it isn't found an antibiotic which can fight both of them.
She needs to take two antibiotics to fight the infection.
The doctor has choose from the sensitive
ciprofloxacine for escherichia and amoxicillin for enterococcus.
So as a conclusion she needs to take both antibiotics to fight the infection.
It is good to give them to someone this age.
There is no other alternative to treat it.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
She needs to take them both.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
I see the photo you attached and it is an uroculture an examination of urine done in order to choose the best antibiotic which works on the organisms causing an infection.
There are actually two organisms found in your mother's urine which are causing the infection.
According to the uroculture results unfortunately it isn't found an antibiotic which can fight both of them.
She needs to take two antibiotics to fight the infection.
The doctor has choose from the sensitive
ciprofloxacine for escherichia and amoxicillin for enterococcus.
So as a conclusion she needs to take both antibiotics to fight the infection.
It is good to give them to someone this age.
There is no other alternative to treat it.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Dear Dr Olgeta
thank you for your reply. Are there any antibiotics she could take which are less likely to affect the heart rhythm?
Thank you, Louise
thank you for your reply. Are there any antibiotics she could take which are less likely to affect the heart rhythm?
Thank you, Louise
Brief Answer:
See details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear XXXXXXX and thank you for asking again.
She needs to take amoxicillin since it is the only sensitive antibiotic for enterococcus.
If ciprofloxacine causes heart rhythm issues she can take gentamicin or tobramycin.
Nitrofurantoin, piperacillin tazobactam, also can cause heart rhythm issues.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
See details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear XXXXXXX and thank you for asking again.
She needs to take amoxicillin since it is the only sensitive antibiotic for enterococcus.
If ciprofloxacine causes heart rhythm issues she can take gentamicin or tobramycin.
Nitrofurantoin, piperacillin tazobactam, also can cause heart rhythm issues.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
