How do antibiotics work against bacteria? : function, dosage, side effects, how to use

Antibiotics are often recommended by doctors to treat your condition. These drugs are useful for treating bacterial infections. So, what exactly is an antibiotic? how does it work in fighting infection? What diseases can this medicine treat? Check out the explanation below.

Definition of antibiotics

Antibiotics are medicines that can fight bacterial infections in humans and animals. These drugs work by killing bacteria or making it harder for bacteria to grow and reproduce.

The word antibiotic itself comes from Greek, where anti interpreted as against and bios is life, in this case living bacteria. It is one of the most powerful treatments for fighting life-threatening bacterial infections.

Antibiotics are available in the form of:

• Tablets, capsules, or liquids you can take. Usually, this form of medication is used to treat most types of mild to moderate infections.
• Creams, lotions, sprays and drops. This form is often used to treat skin, eye, or ear infections.
• Injection. This form can be administered directly into the blood or muscles. Usually, the drug is used as an injection to treat more serious infections.

Antibiotics as medicine

When the bacteria multiply and produce symptoms of disease, your immune system actually starts working. The antibodies in the body will start trying to destroy and stop the growth of bacteria.

However, when the body cannot handle the process, the bacteria will continue to suppress the immune system and eventually succeed in infecting the body. It is during these conditions that you can benefit from antibiotics.

The UK public health service website, the NHS, mentions several conditions that require treatment in the form of antibiotics, namely:

• Cannot be overcome without medication
• The disease can infect other people
• It takes a lot of time to recover without treatment
• There is a risk of causing serious complications

Although proven effective against germs, antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral infections, such as:

• Colds and flu
• Different types of coughs
• Sore throat

Quoted from the website of the United States center for disease control and prevention, the CDC, these drugs are also not needed to treat common bacterial infections, such as:

• Various sinus infections
• Multiple ear infections

Taking antibiotics when they are not needed will not help you. Always do the doctor's advice in taking antibiotics. Use that is not according to the doctor's orders can cause antibiotic resistance which can harm your condition.

Antibiotics as prevention

Not only that, people who have a high risk of infection can also be given these drugs as a preventive measure. In the medical world, this is called prophylaxis.

Situations when antibiotics are needed as a preventative measure are:

• Going to have surgery
  This drug is usually recommended for those of you who will undergo surgery with a high risk of infection, such as cataract surgery or breast implants.
• Bitten or injured
  This medicine is needed to prevent infections that may occur after you have been injured, for example from animal or human bites.
• Certain health conditions
  If you have a medical condition that puts you at a higher risk of infection, such as having had your spleen removed or undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

How antibiotics work

In general, antibiotics have a function to suppress the growth of bacteria that infect the body. However, antibiotics are actually divided into two categories when viewed from the mechanism of action they do, namely:

• Kills bacteria (bactericidal)
  This type of drug usually destroys the infecting bacteria one by one by destroying the bacterial cell walls, so that the bacteria die.
• Stops the development of bacteria (bacteriostatic)
  When antibiotics are successful in suppressing the development and growth of bacteria, the germs will only be the same number and not increase. That way, our immune system can handle it right away without worrying about "losing".

Classification of these drugs can also be done by grouping them based on their ability to fight against types of bacteria, namely:

• Broad-spectrum antibiotics, namely drugs that can destroy almost all types of bacteria.
• Narrow spectrum antibiotics, namely drugs that can only fight certain types of bacteria.

Antibiotic class

These drugs consist of many types, but the NHS classifies antibiotics into six groups, namely:

1. Penicillin

Penicillin kills bacteria by preventing cell wall formation. Antibiotics that fall into this group are widely used to treat a wide variety of infections, including:

• Skin infection
• Lung infection
• Urinary tract infection

Medicines that fall into this group include:

• Penicillin
• Amoxicillin

You are not advised to take any of the drugs included in this group if you have experienced allergies due to consuming them. People who are allergic to one type of penicillin will be allergic to other types.

2. Macrolides

Macrolides work by preventing bacteria from reproducing by blocking bacteria from making proteins. Antibiotics included in this group can be very useful in treating various diseases, such as lung infections.

Macrolides can also be useful as an alternative to people who are allergic to penicillin drugs. In addition, macrolides can treat bacteria that are resistant to penicillin.

The drugs that fall into this group are:

• Azithromycin
• Erythromycin

Do not take macrolides nor do you have porphyria, a rare inherited blood disorder. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the only type of macrolide that can be taken is erythromycin.

3. Cephalosporin

Like penicillin, cephalosporin kills bacteria by preventing them from forming cell walls. The drugs in this group are used to treat a wide variety of infections. However, some types are effective for treating serious infections, such as:

• Septicemia
• Meningitis

Medicines included in cephalosporins, namely:

• Cephalexin
• Levofloxacin

If you have previously had an allergic reaction from taking penicillin, you may also be allergic to cephalosporin. These drugs may also not be suitable for people with kidney failure.

4. Fluoroquinolones

Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum drugs that kill bacteria by preventing them from creating DNA. This group of drugs is used to treat a wide variety of infections, including:

• Respiratory tract infection
• Urinary tract infection

Medicines included in that group, namely:

• Ciprofloxacin
• Levofloxacin

This type of drug is no longer recommended for regular consumption because of its quite serious side effects.

5. Tetracycline

Tetracycline works by preventing good bacteria from growing, that is, by preventing them from making protein. Antibiotics in this class are used to treat a wide variety of infections, but are usually used to treat conditions, such as:

• Acne
• Rosacea, a chronic skin disease that causes redness and rashes on the face

The drugs that fall into this group are:

• Tetracycline
• Doxycycline

These medicines are not usually recommended for people with conditions, such as:

• Kidney failure
• Liver disease
• Autoimmune lupus
• Children under 12 years of age
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women

6. Aminoglycosides

The aminoglycosides prevent bacteria from reproducing by blocking them from making proteins. These drugs tend to be used only in hospitals to treat very serious illnesses such as septicemia. Drugs belonging to this group, namely:

• Gentamicin
• Tobramycin

How to take antibiotics properly

It is important to understand that although antibiotics are very useful drugs, they should not be taken carelessly. Therefore, you must comply with the way your doctor recommends using antibiotics. Keep in mind that antibiotics are not always a cure or solution for your disease.

The things you need to do to prevent the side effects of antibiotics are:

• Talk to your doctor about antibiotic resistance.
• Ask if antibiotics are beneficial for your disease.
• Ask what you can do to cure the disease faster.
• Do not use this medication for diseases caused by viral infections, such as colds or flu.
• Don't leave some of the antibiotics prescribed for the next coming illness.
• Take the drug exactly as the doctor recommends.
• Do not skip doses, even when conditions improve. The reason is, if it is stopped, some bacteria can survive and re-infect.
• Do not take medications prescribed for others, as they may not be suitable for your condition. Taking the wrong drug can give bacteria a chance to multiply.

Make sure to consult with your doctor in dealing with health problems and determine the best treatment for you. If you experience symptoms that cause you anxiety, do not delay your visit to the clinic or hospital.