Antibiotics

Antibiotics: a group of drugs, first introduced in late 1940s, that act effectively against bacteria, as well as rickettsiae and some fungi, either killing them or severely inhibiting their growth. Some act only against a few specific disease-causing organisms; others, termed “broad-spectrum” types, are effective against many infections.

They may, depending on the drug and the nature of the infection, be given orally, injected, or applied topically.

Doctors try to avoid using antibiotics except when they are specifically indicated as the only means effective of combating microorganisms causing an illness. The reason is that indiscriminate use of antibiotics can result in the creation of a new strain resistant to the antibiotic.

Some bacteria have an apparent natural resistance. If an antibiotic is overused, the entire population (within that individual) of nonresistant bacteria will be killed off, leaving only the resistant ones to produce future generations; and, of course, all such organisms spread about by that person will be the resistant kind. In carefully administered amounts, the antibiotics will deal with the disease but leave nonresistant bacteria to reproduce for the future.

It’s for this reason that a patient should never buy over-the-counter antibiotic preparations unless the physician specifically advises him/her to do so. If antibiotic is prescribed, it’s vital that the patient follows the exact doses indicated. The dosage should never be exceeded, in either amount or time period. On the other hand, a patient must continue the antibiotic for as long as the physician has prescribed, even if the symptoms of the illness seem to have disappeared.