ANTIBIOTICS

Antibiotic is a chemical substance that inhibits the growth of other microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoans. The term originally referred to any agent with biological activity against living organisms. Now this term is used to refer to substances with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, or anti-parasitical activity. The effectiveness of antibiotics varies with the location of the infection, the ability of the antibiotic to reach the site of infection, and the ability of the microbe to inactivate or excrete the antibiotic.

Although potent antibiotic compounds for treatment of human diseases caused by bacteria were not isolated and identified until the twentieth century, the first known use of antibiotics was by the ancient Chinese over 2,500 years ago. Many other ancient cultures, including the ancient Egyptians and ancient Greeks already used molds and plants to treat infections. At that time, however, the compounds having antibiotic activity and present in molds or plants were unknown.

The antibiotic properties of Penicillium were first described in France by Ernest Duchesne in 1897. However, his work went by without much notice from the scientific community until Alexander Fleming's discovery of Penicillin.

Antibiotics can be divided into two groups: bactericidal and bacteriostatic. Bactericidal antibiotics destroy bacteria, and bacteriostatic antibiotics prevent bacteria from multiplying. Antibiotics have been synthesized in the laboratory. They are used to treat serious bacterial infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis and many others. Each antibiotic is effective only against certain bacteria. Antibiotics do not fight infections caused by viruses, such as cold, flu, bronchitis, and sore throat, unless caused by streptococci.

Usually, antibiotics are given by mouth, while intravenous antibiotics are used in more serious cases, such as deep-seated systemic infections. If the person has no other conditions that need treatment in the hospital and is feeling relatively well, intravenous antibiotics may be administered at home. Antibiotics may also sometimes be administered topically, as with eye drops or ointments.

Possible side effects are varied and can range from fever and nausea to major allergic reactions. One of the more common side effects is diarrhea. Some side effects may disrupt the function of the kidneys, liver, bone marrow, or other organs. Blood tests are used to monitor such adverse reactions.