Antibiotics and the need for human life

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Antibiotics are medicines of natural or artificial origin used for the treatment of different infections.

In 1928, a British physician Alexander Fleming discovered that a species of mold called Penicillium prevents bacteria's development.

The substance released by mold, penicillin, became available as a drug in the 1940s and is the first antibiotic.

Since their discovery, antibiotics have been allowed to treat different diseases, including tuberculosis.

Researchers are currently trying to find other efficient antibiotics that can destroy resistant bacteria or those that have lost their antibiotic sensitivity.

Antibiotics are a group of drugs, each of which can destroy a specific type of bacteria. Doctors are constantly debating the legality of the prescription such drugs, since most of them suppress the activity of both harmful and beneficial bacteria in the body, leading to concomitant diseases. But it is obvious that the treatment of complex infectious diseases is difficult to carry out without antibiotics.

Principle of action

Based on the active ingredient, antibiotics are divided into two large groups.

    - Bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit the reproductive function of harmful bacteria, preventing the disease from spreading. Existing disease cells are destroyed by the human immune system.

   -  Bactericidal antibiotics destroy the cause of the disease.

It is important to understand that each drug is efficient only for a specific list of microorganisms; therefore, treatment with such agents can't be prescribed without a preliminary diagnosis.

Indications for the prescription of antibiotics

Antibiotic treatment should be prescribed by a doctor, i.e., a person with certain knowledge and qualifications in this field. However, the patient must also have at least minimal information on how antibiotics are prescribed to make the treatment as efficient as possible.

To start with, when it is necessary to prescribe Canadian antibiotics? When a person has an infection caused by bacteria, which is clinically manifested by fever, pain, and different local inflammatory responses. An increase in temperature doesn't always indicate a bacterial infection, but the latter (with rare exceptions) is always accompanied by fever. The local inflammatory response is, for example, edema and purulent discharge from the wound, purulent tonsils, purulent sputum, etc.

Anyway, when these three signs appear, the doctor conducts a detailed examination and prescribes an additional examination. Most often, he/she tells the patient to have a general blood test. The presence of bacterial infection may be indicated by an increase in the number of leukocytes, namely neutrophils, a change in the leukocyte formula, an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Also, depending on the type of disease suspected, the doctor may prescribe a urine test, a biochemical test, and an ultrasound scan or send the patient to other doctors for examination. Moreover, the test for sterility or sensitivity to antibiotics of the environment associated with the disease helps verify the diagnosis. It can be blood, urine, sputum, wound contents, cerebrospinal fluid, etc. As a result of all these diagnostic measures, the doctor can diagnose an infectious disease caused by bacteria (pneumonia, tonsillitis, pyelonephritis, etc.)

The main point in the treatment of infection caused by bacteria is a prescription of an antibiotic. Another auxiliary treatment is also possible, but its role is rather symptomatic - to alleviate the condition, relieve symptoms, or calm the patient.

There are clinical guidelines and standards of care for the prescription of antibiotics for different diseases. However, in addition to them, the doctor also takes into account the patient's age, liver/kidney condition, and concomitant pathologies. He also examines the patient about his previous experience with antibiotics and allergic reactions in the past. If, for some reason, the main antibiotic can't be used for the treatment of the existing disease, alternative options (so-called "reserve antibiotics") are prescribed.

If you have a bacterial infection and your doctor has prescribed you an antibiotic, its administration is obligatory. Choosing alternative treatments and neglecting the doctor's recommendations can lead to serious health consequences. However, it is not safe to prescribe antibacterial drugs to yourself or your children. This can lead to different complications and the development of resistance. Therefore, this group's drugs must be sold in the pharmacy strictly according to the doctor's prescription. You can easily buy antibiotics online and enjoy the treatment.

Classification

It seems impossible to find any ordered structure in a variety of antibiotics. Actually, it's not true, because each drug belongs to one of 11 groups. They differ fundamentally in both components and chemical formulas, but the medications within the same group are similar. Specialists highlight:

• Penicillin and its derivatives;
• Cephalosporins (most of them have a bactericidal effect);
• Macrolides (bacteriostatic drugs);
• Aminoglycosides- they are highly toxic and used to destroy bacteria in the genitourinary system, as well as to treat furunculosis;
• Tetracyclines;
• Fluoroquinolones – antibiotics that don't have a natural counterpart and are used in otolaryngology;
• Lincosamides – natural preparations, the degree of effectiveness of which depends on their concentration;
• Carbapenems – strong medicines of a new generation, prescribed in difficult cases (if other antibiotics turn out ineffective);
• Polymyxins – highly toxic drugs of a narrow scope;
• Antifungal drugs – they are prescribed to destroy fungi of different species;
• Anti-tuberculosis drugs- they are effective only against tubercle bacilli and are the main drugs for the treatment of the disease.

Despite the fact that many antibiotics are sold without a prescription, they must be prescribed by the doctor. Improper treatment will be ineffective and may cause complications.

Methods of administration

Various forms of release of antibiotics without prescription are allowed – these are capsules, pills, injection solutions, ointments, and gels. This determines one of the ways of drug administration.

    Orally – inside, through the mouth, according to the instructions.

    Locally – by lubricating the skin on the affected area.

    By injection – with the help of intravenous or intramuscular injections.

Oral antibiotics are released for the treatment of simple diseases. Local preparations are used to get rid of fungal infections. Injections are given in case of complex diseases and when the patient can't take pills independently.

Contraindications and side effects

Every drug has its own list of contraindications, which should be taken into account during the disease's treatment. However, they all have a number of general restrictions.

• Pregnancy and lactation period;
• Pronounced allergic reaction to the drug components;
• Alcohol intoxication.

The treatment of pregnant women is always carried out under the supervision of a specialist. In rare cases, some antibacterial drugs can be prescribed, if such risk is justified. However, doctors try not to resort to such methods.

Children are treated in the same way as adults: 1) diagnosis; 2 ) prescription of the medicine, which must be taken according to the scheme indicated in the instructions or prescribed by the attending physician. The main difference is a decreased concentration of the drug's active component per 1 kg of the body weight.

The most frequent side effects of antibiotics are:

• Weakening of the body immune system;
• Gastrointestinal disorders;
• Metabolic disorders;
• Toxic reactions.

Other possible adverse effects are determined individually for every drug.

Antibiotics for preventive purposes

Usually, prevention is not carried out with such serious drugs. Still, in some cases, their intake is required to prevent complications.

• Surgical intervention.
• A large open contaminated wound.
• Prevention of syphilis in case of a close contact with a sick person.
• Prevention of angina complications in children.     

Whatever the reason for the treatment with strong drugs, it is always important to observe the drug dosage and treatment duration. The prolonged use of antibiotics is strictly prohibited.