Antibiotics

1 Pages 342 Words

Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by micro-organisms,which have the capacity , in dilute solution, to inhibit the growth of and even to destroy bacteria and other micro-organisms with the exception of viruses. Each antibiotic is characterised by a specific antimicrobial spectrum or range of activity against different bacteria and other microorganisms. Antibiotics vary greatly in their physical and chemical properties and in their mode of action upon bacteria and other microorganisms. Because of these characteristics,some antibiotics have remarkable chemotherapeutic potentialities and can be used for the various microbial infections in man and in animals.
The many types of antibiotics have both advantages and disadvantages but first we will look at the advantages. Antibiotics have revolutionized medical practice. Among the various antibiotics that have found extensive application as chemotherapeutic agents ,the penicillin, the streptomycin,chloraphenical,the tetracyclines and erythromycin are used in great quantities.
One famous antibiotic that has found extensive application in the treatment of infections caused by the staphylocci namely osteomyelitis, arthritis, mastitis, meningitis, burns, etc. This universal drug, penicillin also is effective in the treatment of a variety of infections caused by the pneumococci, anthrax organisms and hemolytic streptocci. While this 'wonder' drug seems to be a panacea , there are disadvantges.Penicillinis are not effective in mixed infections caused by negative bacteria or in malaria, tubercolosis, viral infections, fungal diseases
which are some fatal infections in man.
Antibiotics are also used extensively in veterinary practic, in the treatment of certain plant disease and in the purification of virus preparations.Farmers add antibiotic to their animal feed to stimulate the growth of poultry , swine and cattle. This has been the subject of controversy as scientist...