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Antibiotics
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/antibiotics.html

Antibiotics

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Summary

What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections in people and animals. They work by killing the bacteria or by making it hard for the bacteria to grow and multiply.

Antibiotics can be taken in different ways:

  • Orally (by mouth). This could be pills, capsules, or liquids.
  • Topically. This might be a cream, spray, or ointment that you put on your skin. It could also be eye ointment, eye drops, or ear drops.
  • Through an injection or intravenously (IV). This is usually for more serious infections.

What do antibiotics treat?

Antibiotics only treat certain bacterial infections, such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, and E. coli.

You may not need to take antibiotics for some bacterial infections. For example, you might not need them for many sinus infections or some ear infections. Taking antibiotics when they're not needed won't help you, and they can have side effects. Your health care provider can decide the best treatment for you when you're sick. Don't ask your provider to prescribe an antibiotic for you.

Do antibiotics treat viral infections?

Antibiotics do not work on viral infections. For example, you shouldn't take antibiotics for:

  • Colds and runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow, or green
  • Most sore throats (except strep throat)
  • Flu
  • Most cases of bronchitis

What are the side effects of antibiotics?

The side effects of antibiotics range from minor to very severe. Some of the common side effects include:

  • Rash
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Yeast infections

More serious side effects can include:

  • C. diff infections, which cause diarrhea that can lead to severe colon damage and sometimes even death
  • Severe and life-threatening allergic reactions
  • Antibiotic resistance infections

Call your health care provider if you develop any side effects while taking your antibiotic.

Why is it important to take antibiotics only when they're needed?

You should only take antibiotics when they are needed because they can cause side effects and can contribute to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance happens when the bacteria change and become able to resist the effects of an antibiotic. This means that the bacteria continue to grow.

How do I use antibiotics correctly?

When you take antibiotics, it is important that you take them responsibly:

  • Always follow the directions carefully. Finish your medicine even if you feel better. If you stop taking them too soon, some bacteria may survive and re-infect you.
  • Don't save your antibiotics for later.
  • Don't share your antibiotic with others.
  • Don't take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. This may delay the best treatment for you, make you even sicker, or cause side effects.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

  • Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance Facts (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Antibiotics: When They Can and Can't Help (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
  • Healthy Habits: Antibiotic Do's and Don'ts (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Diagnosis and Tests

  • Therapeutic Drug Monitoring From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

  • Antibiotic Resistance: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Chest Cold (Acute Bronchitis) Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Ear Infection Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Flu (Influenza) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Manage Common Cold (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Penicillin Allergy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Sinus Infection Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Skin Infections (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Urinary Tract Infection Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Specifics

  • Know When and How to Use Antibiotics, and When to Skip Them (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
  • Vaccines & Antibiotics: A Safe Combo? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Videos and Tutorials

  • Antibiotics vs. Bacteria: Fighting the Resistance From the National Institutes of Health Video (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Anti-Bacterial Agents From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Efficacy of topical moxifloxacin on therapeutic laparoscopy-induced wound healing: a double-blind,...
  • Article: The safety and efficacy of a single dose of oral azithromycin...
  • Article: Amoxicillin high-dose dual therapy for Helicobacter pylori primary eradication: Proton pump...
  • Antibiotics -- see more articles

Reference Desk

  • Glossary (Antibiotics) (Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics)

Find an Expert

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
  • Food and Drug Administration
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases From the National Institutes of Health

Children

  • Danger of Antibiotic Overuse (For Parents) Video (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Penicillin Allergy (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

  • Antibiotics (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Antibiotics

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Bacitracin overdose
  • Bacitracin zinc overdose
  • Pseudomembranous colitis
  • Sensitivity analysis

Related Health Topics

  • Antibiotic Resistance
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Medicines

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Antibiotics is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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