Antibiotics can help treat certain types of colitis, such as infectious colitis. They may also help manage complications of other types of colitis.

Doctors may recommend antibiotics in some cases of bacterial infectious colitis. Quinolone antibiotics can help treat cases where the individual has a high fever and dysentery, which can indicate bacteremia.

Antibiotics may also be suitable if a person has infectious colitis and:

In severe cases of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection, doctors may recommend the oral antibiotic vancomycin.

While antibiotics do not directly treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, they may help treat infections that can occur as a complication of IBD.

While more research is necessary, antibiotics may also help manage symptoms of IBD by reducing bacteria in the intestines. This may help reduce an overactive immune system.

Antibiotics can successfully treat infectious colitis caused by bacteria. In cases of mild Salmonella or Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) infections, treatment with antibiotics may not be necessary, as the infections will resolve on their own without specific medical treatment.

There is currently no cure for IBD. However, medications such as steroids can help manage symptoms and reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups.