What is an Antibiotic Shot?

An antibiotic shot is a medication administered by injection as opposed to by oral methods (liquids, pills) or through an intravenous drip. For some illnesses, antibiotic injections used to be an extremely common treatment, and they have certain advantages, which is why some doctors still prefer them. For most common bacterial illnesses, the gold standard treatment is to administer oral antibiotics instead, and not all types of antibiotics are available in injectable form. On the other hand, there are tried and true legitimate uses for the antibiotic shot, though these may vary with each patient.

One common use of the antibiotic injection is to begin treatment for certain sexually transmitted diseases that are bacterial in nature. Doctors might consider injected treatment for newly manifested cases of gonorrhea or syphilis, typically using penicillin. Since there are plenty of people allergic to penicillin, it is very important that tolerance of the medication be verified prior to giving it. It is still possible for an allergy to occur, especially if this is only the second or third time a person has received penicillin, and given that the shot is injected, an allergic reaction can be extremely dramatic.

Some doctors advocate the use of single shot treatment for ear infections, with antibiotics like penicillin. They argue such treatment has good outcomes and may avoid having to use additional antibiotics to clear up infection. This isn’t always the case, and a single antibiotic injection isn’t always effective enough. Many people will need to combine a first antibiotic shot with additional oral treatment to fully treat an infection.

A very legitimate use of the antibiotic shot exists when it appears it would not be possible for a person to tolerate a dose of oral medication. To avoid using intravenous treatment but to get antibiotics “on board,” doctors may begin with an injected dose. If a child is likely to spit out medication or be unable to keep it down because of high fever and vomiting, this may assure that antibiotics do enter the blood stream and start to work. Because the antibiotics can improve symptoms, the shot may make it easier to take additional doses orally.

The effects of an antibiotic shot may vary by person. As stated, there is some risk of allergic reaction to any medication given. Any reaction of swelling tongue, face or lips, or wheezing, hives and difficulty breathing is a medical emergency. Injection sites can be sore for a few days and they may itch or appear red. An injection is usually painful, but most people only notice this slightly. If a shot is given, patients or their caretakers need to make certain further instructions are understood on care, including whether a person will require oral antibiotics as follow-up.