Antibiotics are a group of drugs used to treat bacterial infections. They act by killing bacteria (bactericidal action) or inhibiting their growth and reproduction (bacteriostatic action). Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, so they are not used for colds, flu or other viral diseases.
There are several main groups of antibiotics depending on their chemical structure and mechanism of action: penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and others. Each group has its own purpose and spectrum of activity, so the choice of drug depends on the type of infectious agent, the severity of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient.
Antibiotics are indispensable in modern medicine, but their improper or excessive use can lead to the development of antibiotic resistance – bacterial resistance to treatment. Therefore, it is very important to follow the doctor’s recommendations, not to interrupt the course of treatment and not to use antibiotics without a prescription. In some cases, to increase the effectiveness of therapy, probiotics are prescribed in parallel to protect the intestinal microflora.