Antibiotics are medicines that kill or stop the growth of bacteria. Doctors have used antibiotics to treat infections for 2,000 years. But they didn’t become widespread until 1928, when Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered penicillin. Since then, doctors have developed many more types of antibiotics to treat a wide range of illnesses.
Taking antibiotics as prescribed is important to getting better and staying healthy. If people don’t finish their course of treatment, it promotes the growth of bacteria that can resist future treatments. This can lead to serious and sometimes life-threatening infections.
Different antibiotics target different kinds of bacteria. Some kill bacteria that grow in the presence of oxygen (aerobic) and others work only against those that live without it (anaerobic). In addition, some antibiotics attack a group of bacteria called gram-negative organisms, which are harder to treat than most other bacteria.
Some antibiotics, like fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines, can cause side effects in some people. These can include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, rashes and other skin problems. In rare cases, some antibiotics can also cause allergic reactions in people with certain medical conditions.
Doctors prescribe antibiotics based on a person’s symptoms, the likelihood of having an infection and other factors. Patient factors include age, other medications they’re taking and any allergies or sensitivities. Some antibiotics need to be taken with food or at specific times of the day. Some may interact with alcohol and some medicines, such as the contraceptive pill.