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Respiratory Tract Infection Resource for Patients

About Antibiotics

The word antibiotic comes from the Greek anti meaning 'against' and bios meaning ‘life’. They are sometimes known as antibacterials.

Antibiotic medicines are usually prescribed by a doctor to treat infections caused by bacteria.

Types of antibiotics

There are many different antibiotics which are used to treat different types of bacteria.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used to treat a wide range of bacteria while narrow-spectrum antibiotics are only effective against specific types of bacteria.

Some antibiotics work against bacteria that need oxygen to live ('aerobic' bacteria), such as those that can infect the skin, while others work against bacteria that don't need oxygen and multiply inside the body ('anaerobic' bacteria).

Your doctor will choose the one that is most effective at treating your infection.

When are antibiotics used?

Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections including: urinary tract infections, pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and acute bacterial sinusitis.

Antibiotics are not effective against other types of infection like fungi, or viruses such as the common cold. However, in some cases viral infections may result in a secondary bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics.

The information provided on this website does not replace a consultation with a medical professional. If you have any concern about your condition please contact a medical professional.

  • MYTHS AND FACTS
  • Myth: It’s a good idea to take antibiotics for any infection, even if it is viral, because a viral infection may lead to a bacterial infection.

    Fact: Many infections are caused by viruses, which can not be treated with antibiotics. If you take antibiotics for viral infections, they won’t work and overusing them can result in bacteria that cause secondary infections to become resistant. This will make it harder to treat them.

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