Antibiotics (Gk. Anti-against, Bios-life) are the medicines that kill the bacteria that cause infections e.g., Amino glycosides, Cephalosporins, Erythromycins, Penicillins, Sulfonamides, Tetracyclines etc. Antibiotics are thus chemotherapeutic chemical substances, which are used in treatment of infectious diseases.
Antibiotics are synthesized and secreted by certain bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. Today, some antibiotics are synthesized in the laboratory. However, their origins are living cells. To determine drug of choice, one must known its mode of action, possible adverse side effects in the human beings.
Antibiotics act on organisms by inhibiting cell wall synthesis and activating enzymes that destroy the cell wall, increasing cell membrane permeability, interfering with protein synthesis, and interfering with nucleic acid metabolism.
Antibiotics are low molecular weight substance that interferes with specific activities in certain types of organisms. These effects could be killing or static (inhibitory). If an antibiotic has a wide spread on Gram + ve and Gram - ve bacteria, it is called broad-spectrum antibiotic
Precautions:
Use antibiotics as prescribed by the physician.Take dose at regular, intervals and complete the treatment time as advised by the doctor.
