Post Transplant Antibiotics (preventative)
 

Hi, my unrelated donor transplant was just over 1 month ago. This, along with the fact that I engrafted are the milestones my transplant team uses to have the patient begin taking the preventative (prophylactic) antibiotic. Their preferred antibiotic is Bactrim & I began taking it last Friday.

My question: Is there a preferred preventative antibiotic for AA transplant patients, other than the Bactrim? Because it seems almost every antibiotic can negatively impact blood counts, I just want to be certain I'm on the right one.

Thank you,

I was on Leviquin until it was indicated as a factor in ruptured tendons in my shoulders. They then changed to Doxacycline which seemed to be fine. Just as a point of reference I felt really crummy when I was on the antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal. The antifungal seemed to really give me bad headaches. Hopefully your ANC is high enough that you either do not need to be on the antifungals or will be on them only for a short time. Regardless the antimicrobials are truely life savers. Make sure you take them as directed. I am very glad you are doing so well. YEA!!:D

Dena,

Bactrim is prescribed pretty routinely. My wife took it after her transplant.

Some patients take Cipro, so you could ask your doctor about that one too.

Thank you Scott & Neil. Good to know Bactrim is regularly used for AA patients post SCT.

Scott, I'll be on the anti viral for 1 year post SCT, the anti fungal I think for 3 months(or maybe that one is 75 days) the antibiotic preventative for likely 6 months, another drug called Ursodial for 6 months, and 2 immunosuppressant drugs for at least 6 months. So many meds, but I definitely take em every day.

I was on Levoquin until my ANC was over 500 and then at 1 month they automatically switch patients typically to Bactrim even if the ANC is normal, once they see counts in a range where they feel comfortable having patients start it. The antibiotics make me nervous because I know that before transplant they definitely negatively impacted my counts, but I know I have to take em, and I guess just hope that the donor cells won't be impacted like mine were. I seem to feel OK with these, it's the immunosuppressants, MMF & Cyclosporine, which seem to bothere-mostly the MMF.

I was on Cipro for a while, I just remember that one because you're not supposed to have dairy around the time of the pills, so I was a "sometimes vegan" while on it. ;)

At my transplant centre, all post-transplant patients are on prophylactic antibiotics for life. I'm on Azithromycin daily to help prevent lung infections, but I know most of the other patients are on something different (I know this because I have to correct them at my checkup appointments!) but I can't recall what it is right now...