| Abstract text: |
Antibiotics are one of the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine. The word antibiotic comes from the Greek anti meaning ‘against’ and bios meaning ‘life’. These are drugs used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Before bacteria can multiply and cause symptoms our immune system can usually destroy them. There are occasions when it is all too much and our bodies need help – from antibiotics. Antibiotics are useful in a wide variety of infections but it is important to realize that antibiotics only threat bacterial infections. Used properly, antibiotics can save lives by killing bacteria or keeping them from reproducing. Inappropriate antibiotic treatment and overuse of antibiotics, wrong co-administration with other drugs , incorrect use in combination therapy with other antibiotics , excessive use of prophylactic antibiotic, incorrect or sub-optimal antibiotic prescribed in some cases for infections likely to resolve without treatment may facilitate the development of bacterial populations with antibiotic resistance, or/and increase risk of side effects as : GI intolerance, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, allergic reaction, sensitivity to sun, fungal infection, blood disorders, respiratory depression. Antibiotics must be used judiciously and indicated when systemic signs of involvement are evident at high enough doses and frequencies to archive adequate blood level and prevent resistance and potential complications as life-threatening infections (endocarditis, mediastinitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis and brain abscess) with low toxicity. |
