Antibiotic Functioning, Applications, Potential Adverse Reactions, and Correct Usage: Insights into Their Mode of Action, Practical Applications, and Potential Health Risks, along with Guidance on Proper Administration
In the realm of medicine, antibiotics play a crucial role in treating certain bacterial infections. These medications, discovered over a century ago with the first antibiotic, penicillin, work by targeting specific structures or functions in bacteria, thereby disrupting their growth or survival.
The mechanisms of action of antibiotics generally fall into several categories. For example, many antibiotics prevent bacteria from forming or maintaining their cell walls, an essential requirement for their integrity and survival. This mechanism, known as inhibition of cell wall synthesis, is used by classes such as penicillins, cephalosporins, and β-lactams.
Other antibiotics, like polymyxins, damage the bacterial cell membrane, causing leakage of cell contents and bacterial death. Inhibition of protein synthesis is another mechanism, used by antibiotics such as macrolides, lincosamides, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides, which interfere with bacterial ribosomes, preventing protein production.
It's important to note that antibiotics are not prescribed for viral infections, as they only target bacterial infections. People who are pregnant or nursing, or those with reduced liver or kidney function, should consult their doctor about the best antibiotics to take.
Antibiotics are categorised based on their spectrum of activity, which refers to the range of bacteria they can affect. Narrow-spectrum antibiotics, such as penicillin G, target specific groups of bacteria, like gram-positive bacteria. On the other hand, broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as tetracyclines and chloramphenicol, affect a wide range of bacteria, including both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms.
Unfortunately, the overuse or incorrect use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, making the antibiotic less effective against that type of bacterium. This is a major concern, as resistance can result in germs no longer responding to the antibiotic designed to kill them.
Regarding safety, some antibiotics may cause side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, bloating, stomach pain, and Candida species overgrowth. Unusual side effects of antibiotics include seizures, hearing loss, low granulocyte count, kidney stones, and C. difficile infection. Some people may develop an allergic reaction to antibiotics, especially cephalosporins and penicillin, with symptoms including hives, swelling of the tongue and face, coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
Doctors may advise avoiding alcohol for certain drugs, such as doxycycline. It's also important to note that people taking antibiotics should not take other medicines or herbal remedies without speaking with a doctor first, as certain over-the-counter medicines may interact with antibiotics.
In summary, antibiotics are essential in treating bacterial infections, acting primarily by disrupting cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, or membrane integrity. Ongoing research aims to enhance their efficacy and combat resistance, introducing newer classes of antibiotics such as cyclic lipopeptides, glycylcyclines, oxazolidinones, and lipiarmycins. However, it's crucial to use antibiotics responsibly to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance.
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