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An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics are one class of antimicrobials, a larger group which also includes anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic drugs. They are relatively harmless to the host, and therefore can be used to treat infections. The term, coined by Selman Waksman, originally described only those formulations derived from living organisms, in contrast to "chemotherapeutic agents", which are purely synthetic. Nowadays the term "antibiotic" is also applied to synthetic antimicrobials, such as the sulfa drugs. Antibiotics are generally small molecules with a molecular weight less than 2000. They are not enzymes. Some antibiotics have been derived from mould, for example the penicillin class.

Unlike previous treatments for infections, which included poisons such as strychnine and arsenic, antibiotics were labelled "magic bullets": drugs which targeted disease without harming the host. Conventional antibiotics are not effective in viral, fungal and other nonbacterial infections, and individual antibiotics vary widely in their effectiveness on various types of bacteria. Antibiotics can be categorised based on their target specificity: 'narrow-spectrum' antibiotics target particular types of bacteria, such as Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria, while 'wide-spectrum' antibiotics affect a larger range of bacteria.

The effectiveness of individual antibiotics varies with the location of the infection, the ability of the antibiotic to reach the site of infection, and the ability of the bacteria to resist or inactivate the antibiotic. Some antibiotics actually kill the bacteria (bactericidal), whereas others merely prevent the bacteria from multiplying (bacteriostatic) so that the host's immune system can overcome them.

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often and cant with the antibiotics I am on for 37 days for this throat infection.. Eric likes a couple of glasses of port wine and a couple
heidijaye (Heidi Helen Jarvinen) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:50:13 -0000
often and cant with the antibiotics I am on for 37 days for this throat infection.. Eric likes a couple of glasses of port wine and a couple
@cunobaros ...I thought doctors had been ordered to stop auto-offering drugs, let alone antibiotics? wtf indeed.
burntcopper (Heather Wallace) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:40:04 -0000
@cunobaros ...I thought doctors had been ordered to stop auto-offering drugs, let alone antibiotics? wtf indeed.
Feeling a little more like myself today, but wondering if the antibiotics/steroids are really going to deal with the chest infection.
tonywatkins_ (Tony Watkins) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:39:32 -0000
Feeling a little more like myself today, but wondering if the antibiotics/steroids are really going to deal with the chest infection.
@rerrikee aww tho lol at the same time.If you've got antibiotics you'll feel better soon.Don't think I cud live without the krusty laugh ;-)
JJ_Nutroast (JJ Nattrass) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:34:27 -0000
@rerrikee aww tho lol at the same time.If you've got antibiotics you'll feel better soon.Don't think I cud live without the krusty laugh ;-)
(also, either I have wicked PMS, chill of the kidney, or the antibiotics fucked up my gastric system. :)?)
bathbomb (Emma) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:33:02 -0000
(also, either I have wicked PMS, chill of the kidney, or the antibiotics fucked up my gastric system. :)?)
It's official. I'm fighting pneomonia with my boxing gloves on. I have an inhaler, antibiotics, cold drops & codeine cough syrup. Bring it.
kitagaldamez (Jessica Galdamez) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:32:39 -0000
It's official. I'm fighting pneomonia with my boxing gloves on. I have an inhaler, antibiotics, cold drops & codeine cough syrup. Bring it.

 
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Antibiotic Guide - This guide from Johns Hopkins University provides current information about using antibiotics for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.
Meta Description: [ Physicians/Clinicians: search by bug/drug/diagnosis; find current, concise information on antibiotics for treating infectious diseases; ask questions of Hopkins' experts at Johns Hopkins Infectious Diseases Antibiotics Guide. ]

404 Antimicrobial Agents Used in Treatment of Infectious Disease - An examination of the biological mechanisms by which antibiotics exert their effects.

eMedicine Health - Antibiotics - Consumer health resource center providing information on the types of antibiotics, treatment information, and common side effects.
Meta Description: [ Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine. Antibiotics cure disease by killing or injuring bacteria. The first antibiotic was penicillin, discovered accidentally from a mold culture. ... ]

FQvictims - quinolone adverse drug reactions - victims - This site contains the stories of victims who have had adverse drug reactions to antibiotics in the class fluoroquinolones or quinolones. We are here to help.

How Antibiotics Work -- the Mechanism of Action - Information about the different classes of antibiotic drugs.
Meta Description: [ Fireworks Splice HTML ]

Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) - Premier meeting on infectious diseases and antimicrobial agents, organized by the American Society for Microbiology. Includes information on conferences, continuing education, and products and services.
Meta Description: [ Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2006 - American Society for Microbiology. ]

404 Virtual Hospital Rx Update: Sulfonamide Cross-Sensitivity Reactions - Information for health-care providers concerning allergy to sulfa compounds. Discusses the additional drug allergies that may be found in affected patients.
Meta Description: [ Virtual Hospital was a digital library of health information in pediatrics, paediatrics, and radiology for pediatric education and radiology education ]

What the Heck is an Antibiotic? - John C. Brown provides an expanded definition for antibiotics.

Where Are My Antibiotics? - A discussion of antibiotic overuse, resistance, and why you don't need an antibiotic every time that you get sick.
Meta Description: [ My son has had a green runny nose for three days. I took him to a new Pediatrician today and for the first time, I left without a prescription for an antibiotic. Doesn't he need an antibiotic to clear up his sinus infection? How come my last doctor always gave us a prescription? ]

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