Antibiotics are drugs that either kill or inhibit the growth of germs. They are recommended by doctors to treat bacterial infections. They accomplish this by eradicating germs and stopping their growth. Strong medications called antibiotics are used to treat infections. Your medical team suspects that you or a family member may have an infection that can be cured with an antibiotic. Antibiotics are not always used to treat infections. Antibiotics may work well against infections brought on by bacteria (germs), but they are ineffective against viral infections. Antibiotics can have side effects like all medications, thus they should only be used when absolutely required. Antibiotic use that is unnecessary can potentially be hazardous. As a result, there are crucial things to understand regarding antibiotics.

Why is it crucial to only use antibiotics when necessary?

Infections can be treated with antibiotics, which have also saved countless lives. But whenever antibiotics are administered, they run the risk of having negative side effects and fueling antibiotic resistance, one of the biggest risks to the general public's health.

When are antibiotics necessary?

In most cases, the advantages exceed the risks of adverse reactions or antibiotic resistance. However, excessive antibiotic prescriptions and overuse endanger the effectiveness of these vital medications.

To prevent harm from unwarranted antibiotic usage and to fight antibiotic resistance, it is crucial that we all only use antibiotics when absolutely necessary.

Antibiotics are also prescribed unnecessarily for diseases like many sinus infections and some ear infections that can occasionally be brought on by bacteria that do not always require antibiotics.

Individuals at risk of infection

A prescription for antibiotics may be given to those who are more susceptible to illness. This comprises:

=> Individuals over the age of 75.

Babies that are under 72 hours old and have a known bacterial illness.

Infants who are at a high risk of bacterial infection.

=> Heart failure patients.

=> Diabetic patients who need to take insulin to manage their condition.

=> Individuals having compromised immune systems.

The Top 10 Antibiotic Classes (Antibiotic Types)

Penicillins, Tetracyclines, Cephalosporins, Quinolones, Lincomycins, Macrolides, Sulfonamides, Glycopeptides, Aminoglycosides, and Carbapenems are only a few examples of antimicrobials.

The majority of antibiotics belong to one of several antibiotic classes. A class of antibiotics is a collection of several medications with comparable pharmacologic and chemical characteristics. Drugs from the same class may kill the same or related microorganisms and have chemical structures that resemble one another.