What do antibiotics do to bacteria

This process is often enhanced with certain chemical reactions that can alter the original substance to create a different medication. Antibiotics are powerful medications that work very well for certain types of illnesses. However, some antibiotics are now less useful than they once were due to an increase in antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria can no longer be controlled or killed by certain antibiotics. In some cases, this can mean there are no effective treatments for certain conditions. Each year, 2 million people are infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, resulting in at least 23, deaths. When you take an antibiotic, the sensitive bacteria are eliminated.

The bacteria that survive during antibiotic treatment are often resistant to that antibiotic. These bacteria often have unique characteristics that prevent antibiotics from working on them. The overgrowth of this type of bacteria causes infection in both your small and large intestines. These bacteria often infect your bloodstream, urinary tract, or surgical wounds. This infection typically occurs in people who are hospitalized.

Enterococci infections may be treated with the antibiotic vancomycin, but VRE is resistant to this treatment. This type of infection is resistant to traditional staph infection antibiotics. MRSA infections typically occur on your skin. This class of bacteria are resistant to a lot of other antibiotics.

CRE infections typically occur in people in hospitals and who are on a mechanical ventilator or have indwelling catheters. The most important cause of antibiotic resistance is inappropriate use or overuse of antibiotics. As much as 30 percent of antibiotic use is thought to be unnecessary. Antibiotics are used for treating infections caused by bacteria. Your healthcare provider will evaluate your symptoms and conduct a physical exam to determine the cause of your infection.

In some cases, they may request a blood or urine test to confirm the cause of infection. Most antibiotics have similar side effects. Perhaps the most common side effect is gastrointestinal GI upset, including:. In some cases, these side effects can be reduced if you take the antibiotic with food. However, some antibiotics must be taken on an empty stomach.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the best way to take your antibiotic. GI upset usually goes away after you stop treatment. Also, call your doctor if you develop:. Antibiotics are most effective when used appropriately. This starts with ensuring that you really need the antibiotic.

Only use antibiotics prescribed by your doctor for a bacterial infection. If you forget to take a dose of your antibiotics, take that dose as soon as you remember and then continue to take your course of antibiotics as normal.

But if it's almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. There's an increased risk of side effects if you take 2 doses closer together than recommended. Accidentally taking 1 extra dose of your antibiotic is unlikely to cause you any serious harm. But it will increase your chances of getting side effects, such as pain in your stomach, diarrhoea, and feeling or being sick.

If you accidentally take more than 1 extra dose of your antibiotic, are worried or you get severe side effects, speak to your GP or call NHS as soon as possible. As with any medicine, antibiotics can cause side effects. Most antibiotics do not cause problems if they're used properly and serious side effects are rare. Some people may have an allergic reaction to antibiotics, especially penicillin and a type called cephalosporins.

In very rare cases, this can lead to a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis , which is a medical emergency. Read more about the side effects of antibiotics. Some antibiotics are not suitable for people with certain medical problems, or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Antibiotics are a common medication that doctors prescribe to fight bacteria. Antibiotics are powerful medicines that fight certain infections and can save lives when used properly.

They either stop bacteria from reproducing or destroy them. Before bacteria can multiply and cause symptoms, the immune system can typically kill them. White blood cells WBCs attack harmful bacteria and, even if symptoms do occur, the immune system can usually cope and fight off the infection.

Sometimes, however, the number of harmful bacteria is excessive, and the immune system cannot fight them all. Antibiotics are useful in this scenario. The first antibiotic was penicillin. Penicillin-based antibiotics, such as ampicillin, amoxicillin, and penicillin G, are still available to treat a variety of infections and have been around for a long time.

Several types of modern antibiotics are available, and they are usually only available with a prescription in most countries. Topical antibiotics are available in over-the-counter OTC creams and ointments. Some medical professionals have concerns that people are overusing antibiotics. They also believe that this overuse contributes toward the growing number of bacterial infections that are becoming resistant to antibacterial medications. Antibiotic use appears to be higher in some regions , such as the Southeast.

Use of carbapenems, a major class of last-line antibiotics, increased significantly from to Alexander Fleming, speaking in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech in , said:. As the man who discovered the first antibiotic almost 70 years ago predicted, drug resistance is starting to become commonplace.

Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses. A doctor prescribes antibiotics for the treatment of a bacterial infection. It is not effective against viruses. Viruses cause most upper respiratory tract infections URTIs , such as the common cold and flu.

Antibiotics do not work against these viruses. If people overuse antibiotics or use them incorrectly, the bacteria might become resistant. This means that the antibiotic becomes less effective against that type of bacterium, as the bacterium has been able to improve its defenses. A doctor can prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic to treat a wide range of infections. A narrow-spectrum antibiotic is only effective against a few types of bacteria.