Antibiotics are a group of medicines that are used to treat some bacterial infections. They are sometimes called antibacterials or antimicrobials. Your Comprehensive Guide to Antibiotics Unbiased, detailed, and up-to-date information on common antibiotic medications. Empowering you with knowledge for better health conversations. Explore Medications Antibiotic resistance A problem that has plagued antibiotic therapy from the earliest days is the resistance that bacteria can develop to the drugs. An antibiotic may kill virtually all the bacteria causing a disease in a patient, but a few bacteria that are genetically less vulnerable to the effects of the drug may survive. Antibiotics treat certain bacterial infections, not viruses like cold or flu. Learn tips for safe antibiotic use that can protect you and all of us. Most bacteria that live in your body are harmless. Some are even helpful. Still, bacteria can infect almost any organ. Learn how antibiotics can help you get rid of them. Children and side effects‎ In children, side effects from antibiotics are the most common cause of medication-related emergency department visits. Call a healthcare professional if you or your child develop any side effects while taking an antibiotic. An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention of such infections. [1][2] They may either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. A limited number of antibiotics also possess antiprotozoal activity. [3][4. Used properly, antibiotics can save lives by fighting bacterial infections. Read about how to use antibiotics and about when not to use antibiotics. The following is a list of antibiotics. The highest division between antibiotics is bactericidal and bacteriostatic. Bactericidals kill bacteria directly, whereas bacteriostatics prevent them from dividing. However, these classifications are based on laboratory behavior. The development of antibiotics has had a profound effect on the health of people for many years. Also, both people and. What are some of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics? View our list of the top generic and brand drugs and learn about the types of antibiotics.