Antibiotics: Benefits and Risks

Introduction

• Antibiotics: Common medications used to cure infectious diseases and save lives.
• Potential negative consequences and concerns about their future use and antibiotic resistance.

What Are Antibiotics and How Do They Work?

• Antibiotics: Substances that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.
• Selective Toxicity: Harmful to bacteria but not to human cells by exploiting differences between them.
  • Bacteria have a cell wall; human cells do not.
  • Differences in ribosomes and nucleic acids.
  • Subtle differences in cell membranes.
• Types of Antibiotics:
  • Bactericidal: Kill bacteria.
  • Bacteriostatic: Inhibit bacterial growth, requiring the immune system to help.

Mechanisms of Action

• Inhibiting Cell Wall Synthesis:
  • Example: Beta-lactams (e.g., penicillin, cephalosporins like amoxicillin, cephalexin).
  • Disrupt cell wall formation, causing bacterial cell rupture.
• Inhibiting Protein Synthesis:
  • Target bacterial ribosomes, different from human ribosomes.
  • Examples: Neomycin, doxycycline, azithromycin, chloramphenicol.
• Inhibiting DNA Synthesis:
  • Block steps in bacterial DNA synthesis.
  • Examples: Fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin, sulfonamides.
• Disrupting Cell Membranes:
  • Fewer antibiotics work this way.
  • Examples: Polymyxins, daptomycin.

Benefits of Antibiotics

• Treat infections the body cannot fight off.
• Increased human life expectancy and saved countless lives.

Concerns and Potential Negative Effects

• Overuse and Misuse: Lead to antibiotic resistance.
• Side Effects:
  • Common: Gastrointestinal symptoms (upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea).
  • Broadspectrum antibiotics can disrupt normal gut flora, leading to antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
  • Severe cases: Secondary infections like Clostridium difficile.
  • Allergic reactions: Hypersensitivity to antibiotics like penicillins.
  • Development of yeast infections.

Antibiotic Resistance

• Bacteria's ability to adapt and resist antibiotics (e.g., producing beta-lactamases, modifying ribosomes).
• Resistant bacteria survive antibiotic treatments and can pass resistance to others.
• Importance of using antibiotics only when necessary.

Conclusion

• Judicious use of antibiotics is crucial to avoid resistance and side effects.
• Importance of relying on the immune system when appropriate.
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