Antibiotics: An Overview

Antibiotics, also known as antibacterials, are medications that destroy or slow down the growth of bacteria. They are powerful medicines that fight certain bacterial infections and can save lives when used properly.
Antibiotics either kill bacteria or prevent its reproduction. They cannot fight viral infections.
Before bacteria can multiply and cause symptoms, the body's immune system can usually kill them. Our white blood cells attack harmful bacteria and, even if symptoms do occur, our immune system can usually cope and fight off the infection. There are occasions, however, when it is all too much, and some help is needed, and this is where antibiotics can be used.
There are two main types of antibiotics, ones that can affect a wide range or ones that can affect a few types (small range, or narrow range). Antibiotics that affect a wide range of bacteria are called broad-spectrum antibiotics (eg, amoxicillin and gentamicin). Antibiotics that affect only a few types of bacteria are called narrow-spectrum antibiotics (eg, penicillin). Different types of antibiotics work in different ways. For example, penicillin destroys bacterial cell walls, while other antibiotics can affect the way the bacterial cell works.
An antibiotic is given for the treatment of an infection caused by bacteria. It is not effective against viruses. If antibiotics are overused or used incorrectly, there is a risk that the bacteria will become resistant - the antibiotic becomes less effective, or possibly not work at all, against that type of bacteria.
Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, not your body. What you do as an individual has a real impact on antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, as well as poor infection prevention and control.
While there are some new antibiotics in development, none of them are expected to be effective against the most dangerous forms of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Given the ease and frequency with which people now travel, antibiotic resistance is a global problem, requiring efforts from all nations and many sectors.
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today. Antibiotic resistance can affect anyone, of any age, in any country. Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is making the process a lot faster. A growing number of infections – such as pneumonia, gonorrhea, and salmonellosis – are becoming harder to treat as the antibiotics used to treat them become less effective. Antibiotic resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and increased mortality.