Antibiotics are powerful medicines that kill or slow the growth of bacteria that cause infections. They are very useful but can also make some types of illnesses worse, especially if they are not used correctly. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics is the main driver of bacterial resistance, which threatens many of the advances in modern medicine that we depend on, such as caesarean sections, chemotherapy and surgery.
The term antibiotics broadly refers to naturally occurring and synthetic compounds that inhibit or destroy microorganisms, mainly bacteria. The first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. It and subsequent antibiotics have made it possible to cure serious diseases that were previously untreatable.
Some antibiotics kill bacteria directly, while others work by blocking the synthesis of bacterial cell walls or other structures. Bacteria require a rigid cell wall to protect their genetic material from environmental stresses, and the synthesis of this structure requires several steps. Antibiotics that interfere with these steps cause the bacterium to destabilize, which leads to its death.
You need a prescription from your doctor to get most oral antibiotics. This is for your safety and to ensure that you receive the correct dose of medication based on your condition. You should never share your antibiotics with anyone else, and you should not save any leftover tablets for later use. Doing so increases the likelihood that resistant bacteria will develop, and it may also harm your health.
It is important to take the full course of antibiotics, even if you are feeling better. This decreases the chance that the infection will return and allows the antibiotics to do their job fully.