Antibiotics

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Recommended: Experiments on antibiotic effectiveness

Antibiotics have played a major role in our society thanks to Sir

Alexander Fleming's careful observations in 1928. Without it, many lives

would be in danger due to infectious diseases.

Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by various species of

microorganisms and other living systems that are capable in small

concentrations of inhibiting the growth of or killing bacteria and other

microorganisms. These organisms can be bacteria, viruses, fungi, or

animals called protozoa. A particular group of these agents is made up of

drugs called antibiotics, from the Greek word anti ("against") and bios

("life"). Some antibiotics are produced from living organisms such as

bacteria, fungi, and molds. Others are wholly or in part synthetic - that

is, produced artificially.

Penicillin is perhaps the best known antibiotic. Its discovery and

later development is among mankind's greatest achievements. Antibiotics

have enabled the medical profession to treat effectively many infectious

diseases, including some that were once life-threatening.

How Antibiotics Work ?

Antibiotics can be bacteriostatic (bacteria stopped from multiplying)

or bactericidal (bacteria killed). To perform either of these functions,

antibiotics must be brought into contact with the bacteria.

It is believed that antibiotics interfere with the surface of bacteria

cells, causing a change in their ability to reproduce. Testing the action

of an antibiotic in the laboratory shows how much exposure to the drug is

necessary to halt reproduction or to kill the bacteria. Although a large

amount of an antibiotic taken at one time might kill the bacteria causing

an illness, such a dose usually would make the per...

... middle of paper ...

...ry studies, however, are reporting

success in the development of safer antiviral drugs, and their use should

be possible within the near future.

Works Cited:

1. Pharmaceutical Preparations, Except Biologicals, 1978, Current

Industrial Reports, Series MA28(78)-1, U.S. Department of Commerce,

Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C.

2. Synthetic Organic Chemicals, United States Production and

Sales of Medicinal Chemicals, U.S. Tariff Commission (1972-73)

United States International Trade Commission (1974-75), U.S.

Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

3. L.S. Goodman and A. Gilman, The Pharmacological Basis of

Therapeutics, 5th ed., Macmillan Publishing Co., New York,

1975.

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