| The word "antibiotic" derives from the Greek anti which denotes "against" and bios meaning "life" (a bacterium is a life form). Antibiotics are effective medications that fight bacterial infections. If used in the right way, antibiotics can save lives. They either kill off microbes completely or stop their multiplication. Your body's natural defenses can usually take it from there.
The vast majority of antibiotics have two names, the brand name created by the producer, and a generic name based on chemical structure or chemical class of antibiotics.
Antibiotics do not kill off infections caused by viruses, for example colds, flu, most coughs and bronchitis, sore throats unless brought on by streptococci.
A broad-spectrum antibiotic can be taken to fight a wide number of infections. A narrow-spectrum antibiotic is only efficient against a few types of microorganisms. There are antibiotics that fight off aerobic bacteria, while others work against anaerobic germs. Aerobic bacteria need oxygen, whereas anaerobic bacteria do not.
Antibiotics may be given in advance, to forestall an infection, in particular prior to surgery. This is called 'preventive' use of antibiotics. They are commonly taken prior to bowel and orthopedic surgery.
Antibiotics can cause more harm than good, if not taken in the proper way. Common use and misuse in the ill over time have jeopardized antibiotics' power to kill bacteria. Now, nearly all bacteria demonstrate some resistance to these medications, so that more lately invented antibiotics are sometimes necessary to combat infections once easily cured. Antibiotics can also cause complications, such as diarrhoea and vaginal yeast infections.
If you take antibiotics, observe the instructions. Your dose has been measured to kill off germs throughout the course of the disease. So, if you do not finishing, you may find yourself at the risk of leaving enough microorganisms in your body to resume the infection - even if you are feeling good. The leftover drug will be insufficient to kill the germs the next time, and it may even make them resistant to antibiotics. |
