Several types of microscopic organisms which include viruses, parasites as well as fungi and bacteria are the root cause of many diseases and infections that affect human beings. Some infections caused by this pathogens are trivial and less life threatening while some are severe and can even lead to lose of life or cause death of a patient if left untreated. The drugs that are used to eradicate or hinder the spread of microscopic organisms that cause infections in human beings are known as anti-infectives (How stuff works, 2015). Some of anti-infective drugs include vaccines, antibiotics and anti-viral. This paper will address antibiotics in detail, explain what antibiotics are, identify different types of antibiotics that are good for all ages, its uses and the side effects they may have on human beings and their wellbeing.
Antibiotic is an anti-infective drug given to patients who suffer from different types of infections caused by bacteria. Their modes of action reduce the rates at which bacteria grows and spreads by ensuring that the bacteria do not find a conducive environment to thrive. It does so by stopping the bacteria from accessing the nutrients that it needs for it to survive (Keren et al., 2013). This therefore makes the bacteria to become weak; the human-body-defense mechanisms thereby eliminate the infection more easily when the bacteria are at this weakened state. To ensure its effectiveness, antibiotics needs to be taken on a regular basis for a particular period of time as prescribed by the doctor. If the patient fails to take the antibiotics as recommended, the microscopic organisms that cause the infection may develop some resistance. When this happens, the antibiotics will not be able to stop the growth of bacteria hence the infections caused by the bacteria will keep on returning (How stuff works, 2015).
Antibiotics can be prescribed to all people of different ages. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics in the United States are azithromycin and penicillins, more so in children below the age of 10 and older people who are above 65 years (Massachusetts Medical Society, 2013). Other examples of antibiotics include cephalosporins and quinolones. Use of antibiotics however may result in a number of side effects. They include diarrhea as well as feeling nausea, rashes and also some allergic reactions. A patient who shows any of the listed side effects should always see the doctor so as to be advised accordingly.
References
HowStuffWorks. (2015). Anti-Infective Medications: A Profile of a Drug Category - HowStuffWorks. Retrieved from http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/medication/understanding-anti-infective-medications-ga.htm
Keren, I., Wu, Y., Inocencio, J., Mulcahy, L. R., & Lewis, K. (2013). Killing by bactericidal antibiotics does not depend on reactive oxygen species. Science,339(6124), 1213-1216.
Massachusetts Medical Society. (2013). U.S. Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing, 2010. Retrieved from www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1212055
