It is called antibiotic to the substance having the ability to kill or stop the growth and proliferation of various pathogenic microorganisms. This is because antibiotics can act as bactericides or develop bacteriostatic action.
Antibiotics can be synthesized in a laboratory or produced by a living organism. They have a level of toxicity that affects pathogens, but not host organisms, beyond eventual adverse reactions. So antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria in humans, animals, and plants.
Typically, when ingested by the person suffering from the infection, antibiotics help defend your body from the action of bacteria. Over the days, the organic local response manages to strengthen until it is in a position to reverse the infectious process.
It is important to mention that, when the infection is viral (caused by a virus), antibiotics are not effective. On the other hand, if antibiotics are consumed in a way that is not correct in terms of dosage or frequency, bacteria can become resistant, exacerbating the problem. That is why it is essential to consult a doctor and not self-medicate.
The phenomenon known as bacterial resistance occurs when bacteria become resistant to certain antibiotics, so that they cannot kill them or prevent them from continuing to grow. One of the reasons why this can occur, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, is that the consumption of the antibiotic is carried out too frequently; on the other hand, it may also be due to the fact that the patient does not take all the medications that have been prescribed, believing that the cheapest ones, for example, are sufficient.
When this happens, there are different ways to effectively counteract the action of bacteria. One of them, perhaps the most common, is to choose an antibiotic to which the bacteria has not had the opportunity to create resistance. In some cases, it becomes necessary to administer the drug intravenously. It should be mentioned that it is not always possible to fight bacteria that have become resistant.
With regard to self-medication and the inappropriate use of antibiotics, it is important to first distinguish between serious and transient diseases, which can disappear if we let our natural defenses work. We must not forget that we are the only living beings “dependent” on medicine, and that we often come to believe that in this science there are all the answers because we do not listen to our own bodies.
Faced with problems like the flu and the common cold, it is best to let our body fight them naturally; in fact, since they are viral diseases, we should not take antibiotics in these cases. Of course, we can well strengthen our defenses with a good diet of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and essential nutrients.
Other diseases generally caused by viruses, which is why they should not be treated with antibiotics, are bronchitis, sore throat, some ear infections, and nasal congestion. However, bronchitis can be related to the presence of bacteria in the lungs, as well as a sore throat can be due to strep throat caused by streptococcus bacteria and certain ear infections can arise from the action of bacteria; When in doubt, it is always recommended to consult a health professional.
The penicillin is one of the most known antibiotics. It allows fighting bacteria of the genera Staphylococcus and Streptococcus and Escherichia coli, among other pathogens that affect human health. The gentamicin, the meropenem and cephalothin are other antibiotics widely used.
