Antibiotics

How Do Antibiotics Work?

Antibiotics are medicines used to stop infections created by the presence of bacteria. They not only kill the bacteria, they also prevent them from copying themselves and multiplying. There are many bacteria living on our bodies at any given time, and many of them are entirely harmless. Antibiotics target only the bacteria that cause infection in the body. Antibiotics can be broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum, meaning that they address either a wide array of bacteria or a specific type. Taking antibiotics can affect digestion, as many healthy and useful bacteria live in the gut and make it a balanced and healthy ecosystem.

Conditions Treated by Antibiotics

Antibiotics address a wide variety of conditions. Some of the most common conditions treated by antibiotics include rosacea, acne and hidradenitis suppurativa.