An antibiotic is a medicine used to kill or stop the growth of bacteria in the body.
🔬 Simple Definition:
Antibiotics are drugs that fight bacterial infections.
They do not work against viruses (like cold or flu), only bacteria.
🦠 How Antibiotics Work:
Antibiotics help in two main ways:
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Bactericidal: Kill bacteria directly.
– Example: Penicillin breaks the cell wall of bacteria. -
Bacteriostatic: Stop bacteria from multiplying, giving your body time to fight the infection.
– Example: Tetracycline stops bacterial protein production.
💊 Common Antibiotics:
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Penicillin
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Amoxicillin
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Azithromycin
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Ciprofloxacin
⚠️ Important Notes:
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Overuse or misuse can lead to antibiotic resistance, where bacteria evolve and stop responding to the medicine.
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Always complete the full course even if you feel better.
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Never use antibiotics for viral infections (like common cold, COVID-19, flu).
🧬 Real-World Use:
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Treating bacterial pneumonia
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Healing urinary tract infections (UTI)
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Curing strep throat
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Preventing infection after surgery