Antibiotics

Antibiotics - the plural of antibioticum - are medicines that help fight an infection caused by bacteria. Anti-bioticum is Latin for 'against life' and it kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria. One of the oldest known antibiotics is penicillin. This was the first medicine with which humans could protect themselves against deadly bacteria.

What are antibiotics used for?

In severe bacterial infections, the use of antibiotics is indispensable. Examples are meningitis, sepsis, and pneumonia. However, antibiotics are not suitable for infections caused by viruses, fungi, or parasites.

Doctors are cautious about prescribing antibiotics, especially when the human body is capable of fighting the bacterial infection on its own. This largely depends on how well our defence system (immune system) works. It will therefore be assessed for each person whether the body is strong enough to fight the bacteria in question without the help of antibiotics or not.

What are possible side effects of antibiotics?

Unfortunately, the use of antibiotics can also cause side effects. A common side effect is diarrhoea. This is because antibiotics also attack the good bacteria in the intestine. Another common side effect is hypersensitivity or an allergic reaction. This manifests as fever, shortness of breath, or fainting.

Where are antibiotics available?

Antibiotics are only available on prescription from a GP or specialist. Administration of the antibiotic varies by type or brand name and comes in the form of drops, tablets, liquid, injections, and dispersible tablets.

An antibiotic course generally lasts five to ten days.

Antibiotics were actually discovered by accident

A century ago, in 1928, Alexander Fleming made the important discovery of penicillin during a failed experiment, the first known antibiotic. Fleming was investigating the staphylococcus bacterium, and during the failed experiment, he noticed that the mould Penicillium notatum secreted a bactericidal substance that killed the staphylococcus bacterium.