Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Appropriate Antibiotic Use. Minus Related Pages. Healthcare Professional Resources and Training. Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship. Antibiotics are a group of medicines that are used to treat infections caused by some germs bacteria and certain parasites.
They do not work against infections that are caused by viruses - for example, the common cold or flu. Antibiotics are normally only prescribed for more serious bacterial infections, as many infections get better on their own. Correct use of antibiotics is absolutely essential to help reduce antibiotic resistance. Germs become resistant to antibiotics over time, which then makes them less effective.
The World Health Organization WHO says "the world urgently needs to change the way it prescribes and uses antibiotics" as antibiotic resistance is a major global threat. Antibiotics are a group of medicines that are used to treat infections. Antibiotics are sometimes called antibacterials or antimicrobials. Antibiotics can be taken by mouth as liquids, tablets, or capsules, or they can be given by injection. Usually, people who need to have an antibiotic by injection are in hospital because they have a severe infection.
Antibiotics are also available as creams, ointments, or lotions to apply to the skin to treat certain skin infections. It is important to remember that antibiotics only work against infections that are caused by bacteria and certain parasites. A parasite is a type of germ that needs to live on or in another living being host. Antibiotics do not work against infections that are caused by viruses for example, the common cold or flu , or fungi for example, thrush in the mouth or vagina , or fungal infections of the skin.
Microbes, Germs and Antibiotics discusses the different types of germs which can cause infections. Occasionally, a viral infection or minor bacterial infection develops into a more serious secondary bacterial infection. In this case, antibiotics would be needed. There are various antibiotics available and they come in various different brand names. Antibiotics are usually grouped together based on how they work.
Each type of antibiotic only works against certain types of bacteria or parasites. This is why different antibiotics are used to treat different types of infection. The main types of antibiotics include:. As well as the above main types of antibiotics, there are a number of other antibiotics that specialist doctors or hospital doctors may prescribe for more uncommon infections such as tuberculosis TB. All my patients seem to know the rule about not drinking when you're on antibiotics - the troubl Some antibiotics work by killing germs bacteria or the parasite.
This is often done by interfering with the structure of the cell wall of the bacterium or parasite. Some work by stopping bacteria or the parasite from multiplying.
Antibiotics are normally only prescribed for more serious infections with germs bacterial and some parasitic infections.
Most common infections are caused by viruses, when an antibiotic will not be of use. Even if you have a mild bacterial infection, the immune system can clear most bacterial infections. For example, antibiotics usually do little to speed up recovery from most ear, nose and throat infections that are caused by bacteria. So, do not be surprised if a doctor does not recommend an antibiotic for conditions caused by viruses or non-bacterial infections, or even for a mild bacterial infection.
However, you do need antibiotics if you have certain serious infections caused by bacteria, such as meningitis or pneumonia. In these situations, antibiotics are often life-saving. When you are ill, doctors are skilled at checking you over to rule out serious illness and to advise if an antibiotic is needed.
Urine infections also commonly need antibiotics to prevent spread to the kidneys. Antibiotics can also be prescribed to treat acne - a less serious condition. For acne, antibiotics can be taken by mouth or applied directly to the skin.
The choice of antibiotic mainly depends on which infection you have and the germ bacterium or parasite your doctor thinks is causing your infection. This is because each antibiotic is effective only against certain bacteria and parasites. For example, if you have pneumonia , the doctor knows what kinds of bacteria typically cause most cases of pneumonia.
He or she will choose the antibiotic that best combats those kinds of bacteria. Even if you are pregnant or breastfeeding there are a number of antibiotics that are thought to be safe to take. It is important to take antibiotics in the correct way. If you do not, this may reduce how well they work. For example, some antibiotics need to be taken with food and others should be taken on an empty stomach.
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