Antibiotics are a group of substances used in the treatment of bacterial infections. These types of drugs are not effective against viruses that cause seasonal infections or the flu. Their activity is based on inhibiting the multiplication or killing of bacteria. Antibiotics can be administered for both treatment and prophylaxis of bacterial infections. How do we divide antibiotic substances? Is it allowed to drink alcohol while taking antibiotics? What safety rules should be followed when taking these medications?

The first discoveredantibioticswere substances of natural origin. Penicillin extracted by Fleming is a substance produced by mold fungi. In nature, antibiotics are chemical weapons produced by some bacteria and simple fungi. In current medicine, both substances of natural origin and their artificially modified versions are used.

Antibiotics - history. Where did the antibacterial drugs come from?

Substances with antibiotic properties have been used in the treatment of bacterial infections since ancient times. It is true that people who lived centuries ago did not know the term "antibiotic", but they unknowingly used chemical compounds from this group in medical practices.

In many ancient civilizations, medics applied moldy bread containing antibiotic substances to wounds. This treatment reduced the risk of developing a bacterial infection.

The first researcher to scientifically prove the anti-infective properties of molds was John Parkinson (1567-1650). However, several centuries had to pass before the purified antibiotics found their way into hospitals and pharmacies. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, thus beginning the era of antibiotic therapy.

In the 20th century, antibiotics revolutionized medicine. Thanks to the introduction of these drugs, mankind has overcome many deadly diseases so far. Unfortunately, easy access to antibiotics has led to their overuse by patients. As a consequence, bacterial resistance developed and many formerly effective drugs stopped working.

Antibiotics - how do different types of antibiotics work?

The basic classification of antibiotics is based on their mechanism of action. These drugs can also be classified according to their chemical structure or spectrumtherapeutic, i.e. against which bacteria are active.

Most antibiotics work by blocking the function or process of multiplication of bacterial cells. We distinguish:

  • Beta-lactam antibioticsblocking the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall. This leads to an increase in its sensitivity to unfavorable environmental conditions. The permeability of the bacterial cell wall is increased. Such damage eventually leads to the self-destruction of the microorganism. Beta-lactam antibiotics include:
    • penicillins,
    • cephalosporins,
    • carbapenems
    • and monobactams.
  • Polymyxinsdamaging the structure of the bacterial cell membrane. These antibiotics act as detergents, increasing the permeability of the bacterial cell membrane, which ultimately destroys the microorganism.
  • Antibiotics interfering with bacterial enzymes . This type of antibiotics includes
    • rifamycins,
    • lipiarmycin,
    • quinolones
    • and sulfonamides.
  • Antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis . Drugs in this group usually do not kill bacteria, but only inhibit their multiplication. This type includes:
    • macrolides,
    • linosamides
    • and tetracyclines.

Do all antibiotics kill the same bacteria? Antibiotic spectrum of action

Antibiotics can also be categorized based on target specificity. This means that there are types of antibiotics that kill a large group of different bacteria, and types that are specialized for a small pool of microbes.

Differentiation on the activity spectrum makes it easier to understand how a particular drug works. Narrow-spectrum substances are active against a particular type of bacteria, for example gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria. "Broad-spectrum" antibiotics, on the other hand, are effective against many types of bacteria.

Antibiotics - negative effects of antibiotics

Antibiotics approved for medical use have been tested for all sorts of side effects. When taken properly they are usually safe and well tolerated.

Unfortunately, taking them, as well as most medications, is associated with side effects. The unpleasant consequences of taking antibiotics may reflect the pharmacological and toxicological properties of the drug or result from the patient's individual hypersensitivity to a specific substance.

The side effects of antibiotics include:

  • fever,
  • nausea,
  • allergic reactions, including photodermatitis.

Diarrhea is a common side effect of taking antibiotics, resulting from a disturbance of the species composition of the intestinal microflora.

In order to prevent this type of ailments, it is recommended to take oral probiotics during antibiotic therapy.

Antibiotics can also negatively affect the vaginal microflora. The consequence of taking them may be inflammation of the intimate areas caused by Candidia yeasts.

Antibiotics and alcohol - can they be combined?

Alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics and increase their side effects. The interactions of different groups of bactericidal drugs with the percentage drinks are not uniform.

In most cases, a small dose of alcohol does not cause any noticeable side effects. At the same time, there are groups of antibiotics for which such a combination can be very dangerous.

Antibiotics such as metronidazole, cephalosporins and furazolidone chemically interact with alcohol, which can result in vomiting, nausea and shortness of breath. In addition, the effectiveness of doxycycline can be significantly reduced by alcohol consumption.

How to safely use antibiotics?

The most important point is that antibiotics can only be taken as directed by a doctor. You must never self-medicate by using up any medications left over from a previous illness.

Why is it so important? Because bacteria that often come into contact with one antibiotic can become resistant to it. By applying self-medication without medical supervision, we can lead to the development of an infection for which standard medications will not work.

Another important problem is that we are not able to distinguish a bacterial from a viral infection on our own. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, so taking them can only harm ourselves.

Patients often try to "force" the doctor to write a prescription for an antibiotic. This is due to the great faith of the society in our country in the power of these drugs. Unfortunately, taking antibiotics unnecessarily can lead to recurring infections that are difficult to treat. For this reason, it is better to trust a doctor who refuses to prescribe an antibiotic.

Antibiotics should be taken as prescribed by your doctor. The dose intervals and the duration of the entire therapy are important. Patients sometimes stop taking antibiotics as soon as they feel better. This is a very dangerous practice.

With abbreviated treatment, the antibiotic is unable to kill all pathogensbacteria. Surviving microbes have increased drug resistance. If you stop taking the antibiotic early, the infection is likely to recur and will be more difficult to treat than the first one.

Antibiotics - what to drink?

Take antibiotics with water. This group of drugs interacts with a wide variety of beverages. Citrus juices, especially grapefruit juices, are especially dangerous.

Milk and dairy products can reduce the absorption of some antibiotics from the gastrointestinal tract. Coffee and tea also contain substances that affect the absorption and activity of drugs in the body.

Should I always use cover when taking antibiotics?

All antibiotics have a negative effect on the intestinal microflora. For this reason, it is recommended to take protective probiotics with drugs from this group. It is important not to take the probiotic at the same time as the antibiotic.

In Poland, doctors with a long experience of work usually recommend taking a protective preparation one hour before the antibiotic. Currently, however, the medical literature more and more often writes about taking a probiotic two hours after the dose of an antibacterial drug.

  • Antibiotics - how to take them to avoid antibiotic resistance
  • Antibiogram before antibiotic treatment. What does an antibiogram look like and how to read its results?
  • What is better during antibiotic therapy: synbiotic or probiotic?
  • Antibiotics: rules of application. How to safely and effectively take antibiotics?
Important

Tell your doctor before giving you an antibiotic about:

  • chronic diseases and medications taken - he will choose a preparation that will not interact with other medications and will not worsen the condition of e.g. kidneys or liver, which you suffer from
  • allergic, if an antibiotic ever caused them - penicillin and its oral counterparts (e.g. Augmentin, Syntarpen, Ampicillin) cause most allergies.
  • about the fact that you are pregnant or breastfeeding your baby - then it is better to avoid antibiotics, although in justified cases you can take selected preparations, but only under the supervision of the attending physician

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