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Antibiotics, explained
Antibiotics are medicines used to treat a wide variety of infections or
diseases caused by bacteria. Since they were first introduced in the
1940s and 50s, antibiotics have saved millions of lives. However, because
they have been overused, many antibiotics are no longer effective
against the bacteria they once killed.

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Contents
How do antibiotics work? 1. How do
antibiotics work?
Antibiotics work by blocking vital processes in
bacteria, killing the bacteria or stopping them
from multiplying. This helps the body's natural 2. What are the side
immune system to fight the bacterial infection. effects of
Different antibiotics work against different types
antibiotics?
of bacteria.

 Antibiotics that affect a wide range of 3. Do I need

bacteria are called broad spectrum antibiotics for a
antibiotics (eg, amoxicillin and gentamicin).
 Antibiotics that affect only a few types of common cold or
bacteria are called narrow spectrum the flu?
antibiotics (eg, penicillin).

Different types of antibiotics work in different 4. What's the best

ways. For example, penicillin destroys bacterial way to take my
cell walls, while other antibiotics can affect the antibiotics?
way the bacterial cell works.

Doctors choose an antibiotic according to the 5. What is antibiotic

bacteria that usually cause a particular resistance?
infection. Sometimes your doctor will do a test
to identify the exact type of bacteria causing
your infection and its sensitivity to particular 6. What does
antibiotics. antibiotic
resistance mean
Know the active ingredient for me?

Antibiotic medicines may contain one or more

active ingredients and be available under 7. Can I help
different brand names. The active ingredient is prevent antibiotic

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the chemical in a medicine that makes it work. resistance?
The medicine label should tell you the active
ingredient and the brand name.

To find out more about the active ingredient

see the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
for your brand of medicine, available on our
Medicine Finder page or from your pharmacist
or doctor.

Find out more about how to read CMIs

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Date reviewed: 18 December 2019
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation. This information
is not intended as a substitute for medical advice and should not be exclusively relied on to
manage or diagnose a medical condition. NPS MedicineWise disclaims all liability (including for
negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information.
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