What are the intended purposes of antibotics?

Question

I heard they kill both good and bad germs/bacteria.

Answer 1

You are correct in that antibiotics can destroy pathogens (bad bacteria) as well as the non-pathogens (harmless or good bacteria). Most of the problem is that we need bacteria to digest food properly. Antibiotics interrupt the life cycle of the bacteria and thereby destroy them. But many antibiotics can kill both good and bad bacteria. If you have ever kept a hamster or a guinea pig...both animals will eat their own feces to keep a viable supply of bacteria in their intestines. However, if antibiotics are prescribed and you do have stomach complaints, inform your physician, and he may change drugs or advise that you eat yoghurt. Some people develop cramps, others gas and some even diarrhea. Not all antibiotics kill the good bacteria, as some antibiotics act only against one type of bacteria (i.e. Gram positive or Gram negative...it refers to whether a particular bacterium will absorb a type of dye ...Gram's Stain so that we can see them under a microscope). Another test we do is a culture...we take a sample from you and grow the bacteria, then place small paper discs coated with different antibiotics to see which will kill the bacteria causing your problem, and choose the best that causes the least harm. I am a physician.

Answer 2

Very true, Antibiotics kill both good bacteria and bad bacteria. The purpose of antibiotics is to kill the bad, when bacteria reaches an abnormal unhealthy level in your blood, evident by a complete blood count (CBC), which will show abnormal high WBC, which is WHITE BLOOD COUNT. This makes one sick, and unfortunately in the process of killing out the bad, the good are also killed, altering what is called the normal flora of the body. The good thing is the killing of the good is temporary, usually, and the good rebound quickly, and one can assist the good by eating yogurt and buttermilk, which both contain good bacteria and assist the body in replacing the good.

Answer 3

Yes that is true. Antibiotics are intended to kill microbes that are directly affected by the combination of medications in that particular antibiotic. Not all bacteria are killed by all antibiotics. However, strong antibiotics such as the ones given to HIV patients can be extremely harmful to the body, because not only do they kill a number of good and bad bacteria, but they also prohibit the body's immune system, allowing for viruses and diseases to set in. Most antibiotics that are prescribed are specific to the bacteria found to be causing your illness, and target mainly those bacteria only.

Answer 4

kill bacteria...both good n bad that is why u shd take them only when u have to. Wwomen usually get candidiasis becouse the abcs kill some good bacteria that r resposin=ble for protection against this fungi

Answer 5

antibiotics can be bothe good and bad...in most cases they are given to get rid on an infection, ear infection for example. But if given an antibiotic too often then it can lower you imune system and you can get sick more often. Your body has to learn to fight its own battles sometimes so to speak...in order to produce imunities to infections. And if given antibiotics too often then you can become immune to them and they may not even work or have side effects such as hives or flu like symtoms. In alot of cases given time a slight infection will cure its self...as long as its not associated with fever

Answer 6

To kill off your bacterial infection. Yes, it can kill good bacteria which is why women frequently get yeast infections when on antibiotics.

Answer 7

to kill bacteria!

Answer 8

There you go two points for you for answering your own question.

Answer 9

They kill botics