Antibiotics are organic substances that fight pathogens. These substances are mainly aimed at combating bacterial infections. There are two different groups of antibiotics: bactericidal (bactericidal) and bacteriostatic (bacteria inhibiting).
History
The first form of antibiotics was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. He accidentally introduced a brush fungus into its culture medium and noticed that no bacteria grew around the fungus colony. This was due to the substance penicillin. Yet it was not until 1941 that the first publications of human studies appeared.
Different types of antibiotics
β-lactam antibiotics
This species acts on the cell wall of bacteria. The best known version of this type is Penicillin.
Aminoglycosides
These are fast-acting bactericidal antibiotics. They inhibit protein synthesis, causing the bacteria to die.
Tetracyclines
A group of bacteriostatics whose original substance is tetracycline.
Macrolides
Macrolides have a bacteriostatic effect, they inhibit the translocation reaction.
Chloramphenicol/Thiamphenicol
These agents have an inhibitory effect on protein synthesis in the ribosomes.
(Fluoro)quinolones
Antibiotics with bactericidal effect. They inhibit the synthesis of DNA and RNA.
Vancomycin
Acts on the cell wall of bacteria.
Rifamycin/Rifampicin
Inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis.
Nitroimidazole derivatives
Produce free radicals that destroy the DNA of bacteria.
Sulfonamides/Trimethoprim
Bactericidal effect based on shutting down folic acid production in bacteria.
Antibiotic effectiveness
Antibiotics must have selective toxicity because they must kill or inhibit the pathogens while causing minimal damage to the host. Factors that influence effectiveness are:
- The drug must be able to reach the site of action, so the route of administration is important.
- It must be an agent to which the pathogen is sensitive.
- The drug must reach an effective concentration over a certain period of time. This depends on the administration, the absorption rate and the elimination rate.
Resistance
Doctors only give an antibiotic prescription when it is absolutely necessary. A species of bacteria can become resistant to certain antibiotics.
This means that the bacteria gradually develop a defense against this medicine, so that the medicine loses its effect. The medicine will also no longer have any effect on other patients who are infected with this resistant bacteria.
That is why doctors are cautious about prescribing antibiotics.
Diseases treated with antibiotics
- Serious respiratory infections, for example pneumonia.
- Stomach ulcer, which is caused by the bacterium Heliobacter prilori. Used for this with triple therapy
- Cystitis, in addition to using an antibiotic, you should drink a lot of water.
- Legionella infection, also called; Legionnaires’ disease. It’s a type of pneumonia.
- Salmonella contamination, an annoying intestinal infection due to insufficient hygiene in the kitchen.
- Sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia infection and trichomoniasis.
- Tuberculosis, this infection, is treated with a combination of different antibiotics, because the bacteria quickly develop resistance.
Use of antibiotics
Due to the risk of resistance, there are a number of regulations when using antibiotics.
Complete your treatment : even if you no longer have any problems, take your prescribed medication for as long as the doctor tells you to.
Take consistently : You must take your medicine consistently. Check the leaflet carefully to see how often you should take it, and make sure you take it at the same time as much as possible.