Antibiotic By: Molina Phear

What is an antibiotic? An antibiotic is a substance produced by or a semisynthetic substance derived from a microorganism and able to dilute solution to inhibit or kill another microorganism. How does an antibiotic work? Antibiotics are given to destroy microorganisms that have entered the body and caused it harm. There are chemicals that are produced by certain bacteria that can damage, disable or cause harm to the body. An antibiotic is given to relieve symptoms that are caused by the harmful microorganism. Antibiotics are like selective poisons. Different antibiotics attack different microorganisms. For example, if harmful bacterium entered the body through the ear and infects the area, that area can become inflamed and cause pain. You would be given an antibiotic that targets that specific type of bacteria and destroy it to eliminate the inflammation.
There are some antibiotics that work by stopping the bacterium or parasite from multiplying. There are also other antibiotics that work by killing the bacteria or parasite. This is done by interfering with the structure of the cell wall of the bacterium. which helps prevent resistance developing the antibiotic(s). Side effects of taking antibiotics include diarrhea, chest pains, mild stomach pains, and nausea. There are very few instances where an individual would be allergic to any antibiotic.

Fig. 1 The antibiotic is taken in doses of milligrams given in tablets taken by mouth or by milliliters given by a shot.
http://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/Public/2010/June/Thumbnail/61 0antibiotics.jpg

Why Are Antibiotics Given?

Antibiotics are given to those with serious bacterial infections such as pneumonia. Antibiotics are only helpful if infected by a bacteria or parasite, as it has no effect whatsoever if you were infected by a virus like the common cold or the flu. It is important to take the antibiotics for the entire durations,

Fig.2 Antibiotic given as a shot.

http://www.research.chop.edu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/PCORI.jpg

History of antibiotics The first antibiotic to be used in hospitals was discovered by two German doctors, Rudolf Emmerich and Oscar Low, called pyocyanase in the 1890s though it is no longer used today. The first antibiotics tablets that were sold under trade names, such as Amoxicillin, were in 1981 by SmithKline Beecham. Antibiotics are either given through tablets or shots. Shots are given in larger muscle area such as the deltoid area on the arm. Tablets are given in small doses for certain amount of day.

These are examples of different antibiotics and how they affect different bacterium. http://faculty.ccri.edu/lmfrolich/Microbiology/1002_antibacterial_l.jpg

Sources: http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/medication/question88.htm http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/Penicillin_2.htm http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antibiotic http://www.patient.co.uk/health/antibiotics-leaflet#