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by zw7 1272 days ago
Z-pak (azithromycin) is not the recommended antibiotic for bacterial sinus infections nor pneumonia (common bacterial infections associated with upper respiratory infections) per most guidelines. Interestingly though, it does have anti-inflammatory properties in addition to its main antibacterial effect. When I see a clinician prescribe a Z-pak (urgent cares are notorious for having a low threshold for prescribing Z-paks), part of me wonders if it's to avoid overuse and potential resistance to appropriate antibiotics and placate patients who want a quick fix.

The downside is that since they feel better from the anti-inflammatory effect, its supports their initial thought they needed antibiotics and in the future will always think they need them, even though they very likely only have a viral infection.

1 comments

In Spain its either amoxicillin or the Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid combination.
Those are what I've gotten in the US for sinus infections.