Antibiotics are medicines that kill or stop the growth of bacteria that cause infections. They have been used in medicine since the early 1900s to save lives and make surgery safer and more successful.
The overuse of antibiotics means that bacteria are becoming resistant to them, meaning they no longer work. This makes it harder to treat certain infections, and can also lead to side effects such as diarrhea and nausea. It is important to use antibiotics only when they are needed, and to follow the instructions given by your doctor.
Some antibiotics can be toxic if taken in high doses, or if certain patient factors are present such as medication allergies, renal and hepatic function, or immunocompromised state. Antibiotics that require monitoring include penicillins (which can cause haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia), vancomycins (which may cause neurotoxicity) and aminoglycosides, which may lead to renal toxicity.
Some antibiotics are broad-spectrum, which means they target many types of bacteria. Others, such as quinolones and tetracyclines, target just one or two types of bacteria. Your doctor will prescribe the best antibiotic for your infection. They may recommend that you take the antibiotic by mouth or through injection, depending on the type and severity of the infection. It is important to take the entire course of antibiotics as prescribed, even if you are feeling better before the course is complete. It takes a few days for the antibiotic to be fully active in your body, and stopping the medication early increases the risk that the bacteria will survive and become resistant to future treatment.
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