Hi
What is the difference between urinary antiseptics and antibiotics?
Why we use antiseptics in UTI instead of antibiotics?
antibiotics, as a rule, are of natural origin and antiseptic are of synthetic origin
Many people usually get confused with the terms "antibiotic" and "synthetic antimicrobial". I suppose, instead of "synthetic antimicrobial drug" you use a term "antiseptic". Antibiotic is usually described as a substance of natural origin (plant, bacteria, fungi etc.) which was synthesized in a live organism in order to fight with infections coming from surrounding area - other live organism (thus it is called "anti-biotic"). Of course, nowadays many antibiotics are semi-synthetic or even synthetic, made purely by synthesis, as the natural antibiotics are often not very stable. Synthetic antimicrobial drugs usually are made by chemical synthesis (eg. sulfanilamides, nitrofurans, quinolones etc.). The latter group is used very often for urinary tract infections as most of fluoroquinolones are active against gram-negative bacteria causing those infections. As this group is very popular for such indication, commonly it is called "urinary antiseptics". Several aminoglycosides (antibiotics) also may be indicated for urinary tract infections, but they should be administered i.v., thus synthetic antimicrobials are more popular as they can be used orally.
Above re. antibiotics is clear. However, we can't say "why" they are produced in nature (evolution has no purpose or objective), we can only say what they do.
Antiseptics are synthetic compounds used topically to effect immediate reduction in microbial load . Example- ethanol product such as Purell. The term has regulatory significance - in US - https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm444681.htm
Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that applied to living tissues or taken by orally to reduce the possibility of an infection, sepsis or putrefaction. Antiseptics are generally distinguished from antibiotics by the latter's ability to be transported through the lymphatic system to destroy the bacteria within the body. Some antiseptics are true bacteriostatic and only prevent or inhibit their growth.
Early days commonly used synthetic antimicrobial compounds. In these days no antibiotics were used. Because first antibiotic was found in 1939's. Mode of the action of sulfa drugs are acting as growth factor analogue for essential growth factors of bacteria. Sulphanilamide was the first sulfa drug discovered in 1930's. It is a analogue of p-amino benzoic acid and it is effectively against Streptococcal infections. Ex. An analogue of p-amino benzoic acid will be recognized by a bacterium by mistake, as p-amino benzoic acid. As a result, the chemical analogue will be used in synthesis of folic acid. But, the product would not be a real folic acid. But, a different chemical which is functionally incapable of during the role of real folic acid.
Isoniazide is a synthetic pharmaceutical which is given very efficiently against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a analogue of Nicotinamide.Quinalones is a another synthetic pharmaceutical and it is inhibit the DNA gyrase of bacteria. Nalidixsic acid is a basic quinalones.
- Ciprofloxcin is a chlorinated quinalone. It is a synthetic antibacterial pharmaceutical, not an antibiotic. Ciprofloxcin is water soluble and rapidly extracted from kidneys. Therefore they can be used orally . For this reason, drug like ciprofloxcin are very effective against Urinary Tract Infections.
Appears none of us read through your question - esp. re "uti antiseptics". The term refers to use of a (typically-synthetic) material taken orally that is only effective after concentration in urinary tract - offering little to no effect systemically. Methenamine is an example.https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6822/methenamine-hippurate-oral/details
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