How they work

If bacteria are able to get inside the body, they begin to multiply and to release toxins. The body fights these bacteria and their toxins with inflammation. Although inflammation is a normal response, it can be painful. Antibiotics help by killing the invading bacteria and by decreasing the body's inflammatory response. Antibiotics can wall off the bacteria so they are not free to move throughout the body, they can poke holes in the bacteria's cell wall thereby killing the invaders, or antibiotics can keep the bacteria from eating or reproducing. Antibiotics do not attack normal human cells, and it is important to note they also do not attack viruses. Antibiotics only work on bacteria.

Benefits and Costs

Despite the effectiveness of the human immune system, some bacteria are able to cause illnesses that the human body can not conquer on its own. Antibiotics can be extremely effective in fighting acne, strep throat, and other bacterial infections. When taken correctly and for the fully prescribed amount of time, antibiotics can wipe out infection and help an individual to regain health.

But, although antibiotics are effective in fighting many types of bacteria, bacteria have ways of fighting back. Over time bacteria have changed, and they are now more resistant to the medications that were once so effective in killing them. Bacteria that once were killed by penicillin are unaffected by that antibiotic. Super-bugs are developing as bacteria spread and as antibiotics become more widely used. Because bacteria can change and become resistant to antibiotics, it is important that those who are using antibiotics use them exactly as prescribed and do not stop the medications early. It is also important that people are not given antibiotics unless they absolutely need them.

Risks

Despite the benefits of using antibiotics, there are many risks associated with them as well. When an antibiotic is used long-term, the bacteria it is fighting may become resistant to it and the patient may need to switch to a different kind of medication. This is risky because it allows the bacteria to then be exposed and become resistant to yet another type of antibiotic. In addition to the risks of resistance, using amoxicillin in early childhood can more than double the child’s chance of developing dental problems later in life. A recent study also found that those on antibiotics for longer than six weeks may suffer from increased respiratory infections.

Common antibiotics used

There are hundreds of kinds of antibiotics in use today, and scientists keep making more as bacteria become more resistant. The kind of bacteria in the body determines what kind of antibiotic that may be prescribed. Of the 17 groups of antibiotics, the following are the most widely known:

Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Penicillin, Clindamycin, Tetracyclin, Gentamicin, Neomycin, Erythromycin, Streptomycin, and many, many more.