Antibiotic

What Is Antibiotic?

An antibiotic is a chemical produced by or derived from microorganisms i.e. germs such as bacteria and fungi or bugs. The discovery of antibiotic has helped to reduce the number of fatalities that are associated with infections caused by bacteria.

Antibiotics are also among the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine. Antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial infections that cause illnesses in the body, and are sometimes called antibacterials.

Some antibiotics can be used to treat a wide range of infectious diseases and are known as broad-spectrum antibiotics. Others are only effective against a few types of bacteria and are called narrow-spectrum antibiotics.

History

The treatment of infection with the use of antibiotics dates back to the Stone Age when prehistoric man discovered the healing abilities of plants and herbs. The trend continued throughout the ages with many cultures following suit. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that bacteriologist Alexander Fleming discovered the bacteria-fighting properties of penicillin. Since then, antibiotics have been manufactured to help cure dangerous illnesses or prevent them from progressing. With the advent of the pharmaceutical age, manufacturers of antibiotics and other medications have been able to replicate the effectiveness of natural antibiotics, forming synthetic versions that are stronger than their natural predecessors.

Types of antibiotics

The types of antibiotics you take depend on the type of infection you have and what kind of antibiotics are known to be effective. The main classes of antibiotics are as follows:

Macrolides – Macrolide antibiotics are used to treat respiratory tract infections, genital, gastrointestinal tract, soft tissue infections caused by susceptible strains of specific bacteria. The most commonly-prescribed macrolides: erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin and roxithromycin.

Aminoglycosides – Aminoglycoside antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. The aminoglycosides are drugs which stop bacteria from making proteins. The most commonly-prescribed aminoglycosides: amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin and tobramycin.

Cephalosporins – Cephalosporins are grouped into “generations” by their antimicrobial properties. Cephalosporin antibiotics are commonly used for surgical prophylaxis. The most commonly-prescribed cephalosporins: cephazolin, cefadroxil, cephalexin, cephradine, cefaclor, cefuroxime, cefprozil, loracarbef, cefotaxime, cefixime, cefpodoxime, ceftazidime, cefdinir, cefepime and cefpirome.

Fluoroquinolones – Fluoroquinolones are known as broad-spectrum antibiotics, meaning they are effective against many bacteria. Fluoroquinolones are used to treat most common urinary tract infections, skin infections, and respiratory infections (such as sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis). The most commonly-prescribed fluoroquinolones: ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin and trovafloxacin.

Penicillins - Penicillin was the first antibiotic discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1929. Penicillins are used to treat skin infections, dental infections, ear infections, respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea. Penicillins block the construction of bacteria cell walls, causing the walls to break down, and eventually killing the bacteria. The most commonly-prescribed penicillins: amoxicillin, ampicillin, bacampicillin, oxacillin and penicillin

Tetracyclines – Tetracyclines are a family of antibiotics used to treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections. The tetracycline antibiotics have a very broad spectrum of action.The most commonly-prescribed tetracyclines: tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline

Antibiotic Resistant

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are germs that cannot be killed by commonly used antibiotics. When bacteria are exposed to the same antibiotics over and over, a variety of biochemical processes occur within these bacteria. Resistant bacteria do not respond to the antibiotics and continue to cause infection.

Beta-lactamases are enzymes produced by some bacteria and are responsible for their resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillins, cephalosporins, cephamycins and carbapenems. Beta-lactam antibiotics are mainly used to treat a broad spectrum of gram positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Often beta-lactam antibiotics are combined with bacterial beta-lactamase inhibitors in order to be able treat infections caused by bacteria resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics (for example ampicillin or sulbactam, ticarcillin or clavulanate, amoxicillin or clavulanic acid, piperacillin or tazobactam, etc). Nowadays these combined drugs are called next generation antibiotics.

Side Effects of Antibiotics

In general, antibiotics rarely cause serious side effects. The most common side effects of antibiotics are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. Some people are allergic to antibiotics, particularly penicillins. Allergic reactions cause swelling of the face, itching and a skin rash and, in severe cases, breathing difficulties. Allergic reactions require prompt treatment.

Misconceptions

Until recently, it was common practice for doctors to offer antibiotics to treat ear infections and other illnesses that were thought to only be cured with medicinal treatment. But science has disputed the need for routine use of antibiotics, and the fad has since declined. In fact, physicians are finding that given time, some infections can actually be cured by the body without the use of antibiotics and only a small amount of ibuprofen to help numb the pain. Increased resistance to antibiotics due to overuse has also resulted in the need to create stronger drugs. Science has also proven that antibiotics are completely ineffective in fighting illnesses that are caused by viral agents and some fungi. And of course, antibiotics can not cure the common cold.

This article is summarized from well published author about antibiotic written by Eleanor Jewell, Author: skgaran, By Yury Bayarski

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