antibiotics what are they
These new strains are resistant to some types of antibiotics. If you get an infection with one of these bacteria, your doctor may need to try several types of drugs until he finds one that works. You could get a lot sicker while you wait for the one that can treat you. Antibiotics are powerful medicines that fight bacterial infections. Used properly, antibiotics can save lives. They either kill bacteria or keep them from reproducing. Your body's natural defenses can usually take it from there. Antibiotics do not fight infections caused by viruses, such as. Why Taking Antibiotics for a Cold Can Be a Problem. It might not seem like you're doing any harm if you take a medicine even though it doesn't treat your cold, but it can. When people take antibiotics when they don't have to, over time, the medicine becomes less effective. Although antibiotics are useful in a wide variety of infections, it is important to realize that antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics are useless against viral infections (for example, the common cold) and fungal infections (such as ringworm). Your doctor can best determine if an antibiotic is right for your condition. Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 11/11/2014. Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine. Antibiotics cure disease by killing or injuring bacteria. The first antibiotic was penicillin, discovered accidentally from a mold culture. Today, over 100 different antibiotics are available to cure minor, and life-threatening infections. When Antibiotics Can Help. When they're used the right way, antibiotics can save lives. For example, they can treat bronchitis, pneumonia, strep throat, ear infection, and pinkeye -- as long as they're caused by bacteria. Sometimes, you get infected with a bacteria after you've got a cold. Although there are well over 100 antibiotics, the majority come from only a few types of drugs. These are the main classes of antibiotics. 1  Penicillins such as penicillin and amoxicillin.  Cephalosporins such as cephalexin (Keflex) Most antibiotics have 2 names, the trade or brand name, created by the drug company that manufactures the drug, and a generic name, based on the antibiotic's chemical structure or chemical class. Trade names such as Keflex and Zithromax are capitalized. In most cases of antibiotic use, a doctor must choose an antibiotic based on the most likely cause of the infection. For example, if you have an earache, the doctor knows what kinds of bacteria cause most ear infections. He or she will choose the antibiotic that best combats those kinds of bacteria. Although there are well over 100 antibiotics, the majority come from only a few types of drugs. These are the main classes of antibiotics. 1  Penicillins such as penicillin and amoxicillin. 2  Cephalosporins such as cephalexin (Keflex)  Macrolides such as erythromycin (E-Mycin), clarithromycin (Biaxin), and azithromycin (Zithromax)
They are powerful medicines that fight bacterial infections.