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Introduction To Antibiotics
An antibiotic is a type of medication that is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that are causing the infection. There are many different types of antibiotics, and each one is used to treat different types of infections.
Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections, such as the common cold or the flu. Antibiotics are also not effective against infections caused by parasites.
Classification of Antibiotics
There are many different types of antibiotics, which can be classified in a variety of ways. One way is to classify them by their mechanism of action. This can be divided into five categories:
1. Bacteriostatic antibiotics- These antibiotics stop bacteria from growing, but do not kill them.
2. Bactericidal antibiotics- These antibiotics kill bacteria.
3. Antibiotics that target the cell wall- These antibiotics disrupt the cell wall of bacteria, causing them to die.
4. Antibiotics that target the ribosome- These antibiotics disrupt the protein synthesis of bacteria, causing them to die.
5. Miscellaneous antibiotics- This category includes antibiotics that do not fit into any of the other categories.
Mode of action of antibiotics
Mode of action of antibiotics is to inhibit the growth of or kill the bacteria. Antibiotics work by disrupting the structure and/or function of the bacteria’s cell wall or by interfering with the production of essential proteins.
Bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics
Bactericidal antibiotics are antibiotics that kill bacteria. Bacteriostatic antibiotics are antibiotics that stop bacteria from growing, but do not kill them.
Application Of Antibiotics
The use of antibiotics has revolutionized the field of medicine by decreasing the spread of infection and increasing the survival rates of patients. Antibiotics are a type of medication that is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing the bacteria or stopping it from multiplying.
There are a number of different antibiotics that are available and they are classified based on their chemical structure. The most common type of antibiotics are the penicillins, which include amoxicillin and ampicillin. Other common antibiotics include cephalosporins, erythromycin, and tetracycline.
Antibiotics are typically prescribed by doctors based on the type of infection that is being treated. They can be taken orally, injected, or applied topically.
Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, so they should not be used to treat infections caused by viruses, such as the common cold or the flu.
