2006-09-29 17:47:42 · 4 answers · asked by thomas s 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
"Antibiotic" is made of word parts that mean "against life." It is a medication used to treat bacterial infections.
Different antibiotics work in different ways, but essentially they all impact the ability of bacteria to live and reproduce and allow the body's natural defenses to win the fight with an infectious invader. Some can be used only topically on a wound or sore, some must be taken by injection or IV or introduced in some other way, some only work orally and others have several forms and routes of use.
Lay people usually say "antibiotic" for anything used to treat any infection, but antibiotics are used against bacteria. Against a fungus or mold you would need an "antifungal" and against a virus an "antiviral" and so forth.
One important thing to know about antibiotics is that used improperly they can actually create "superbugs" that are resistant to treatment. That's why it is so important to take an antibiotic as prescribed and not just stop when you start to feel better.
Another problem is that antibiotics also kill helper bacteria like those that live in then gut and vagina, and until these are replaced, other infections can occur that otherwise the friendly bacteria would have kept in check.
That's why so many complain of diarrhea after taking antibiotics and women often get yeast infections.
Yogurt is often recommended because the harmless bacteria it contains can help replace the helpful bacteria.
2006-09-29 17:57:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An antibiotic is a medicine used to treat bacterial infections (it won't treat viruses...sorry) by killing the bacteria causing the said infection.
The most known antibiotic is penicillin, discovered by Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming.
2006-09-30 00:50:42 · answer #2 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A substance, such as penicillin or streptomycin, produced by or derived from certain fungi, bacteria, and other organisms, that can destroy or inhibit the growth of other microorganisms. Antibiotics are widely used in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotics
2006-09-30 00:53:22 · answer #3 · answered by Frogface53 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antibiotics are substances able to stop the multiplication/growth of infection causing bacteria (as well as other populations of bacteria, meaning non infectious). These substances can simply disable the bateria from multiplying or stop it functioning normally, hence their destruction and the elimination of the symptoms/diseases they cause.
2006-09-30 00:58:51 · answer #4 · answered by Yacine B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋