answersLogoWhite

0

antibiotics are useful against bacteria because they help to kill off the nasty bacteria or they can also stop the bacteria from reproducing - so the illness doesn't get worse. this then gives your body time to make antibodies which will eventually distroy the bacteria. after this, you won't get the disease again because you are immune to it.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Gerontology

How does the misuse of antibiotics affect the evolution of disease-causing bacteria?

The antibiotics will kill some bacteria but not all and the ones that are resistant to the antibiotic will survive and reproduce passing on their resistance. One of the major influences in the development of so called 'super bugs' is the use of low level antibiotics as livestock growth promoters. This practice has been banned in Europe and Scandinavia but is still permitted in American farming due to the influence of the farming lobby. A microbiology professor I spoke to described this as a dangerously trivial use of antibiotics that could seriously threaten the effectiveness of modern medicine.


How long does antibiotics stay in your body?

The length of time antibiotics stay in your body can vary based on factors such as the type of antibiotic, your kidney and liver function, and how your body metabolizes the medication. In general, most antibiotics are eliminated from the body within a few days to a week after completing the full course of treatment.


What is common household cleaner that is effective against microorganisms?

Bleach is a common household cleaner that is effective against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It is a strong disinfectant that can help kill germs and prevent the spread of infections in the home.


What is cedeficile?

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a type of bacteria that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. It is often associated with healthcare settings and can be transmitted through spores on surfaces or through fecal-oral contact. Treatment typically involves antibiotics targeted at the bacteria.


What are Harmful and useful bacterias to human?

In the digestive tract are bacteria, the most famous of which is Lactobacillus acidopholus, which aid in digestion, compete with possibly virulent bacteria that are inhaled on a daily basis, synthesize vitamins, convert dietary fiber, and degrade toxins. There are more bacteria in the large intestine than there are cells in the human body. The bacteria also aid in developing a vigorous immune response; more than half of the body's immune tissue is located in the lining of the small intestine. All of the digestive tract bacteria are discharged from the body daily and renewed without causing disease. Antibiotics actually end up depleting the intestinal flora leaving a person susceptible to other infections. Staphylococcus epidermidis and P. acnes are two bacterial species that are naturally present on the skin; Streptococcus mutans is present in the mouth. These bacteria species can cause infection, acne, or dental plaques if not kept in check, but also compete out more virulent species of bacteria. Eliminating these colonizing species altogether would leave a person vulnerable to more severe infections.It seems likely, however, that most people know bacteria best because of the diseases they cause. Some of these diseases are produced when bacteria attack directly the tissues in a plant or animal. For example, fruits and vegetables that become discolored as they are growing may be under attack by bacteria. Bacteria also attack organisms by releasing chemicals that are poisonous to plants and animals. Such poisons are known as toxins. A familiar toxin-producing bacterium is Clostridium tetani, responsible for the disease known as tetanus. Tetanus is a condition in which one's muscles are paralyzed, explaining its common name of lockjaw. A related bacterium, Clostridium botulinum, releases a toxin that causes the most severe form of food poisoning, botulism. Some forms of dangerous bacteria live on the human skin, but cause no harm unless they are able to enter the blood stream through a break in the skin. Among these bacteria is Staphylococcus, responsible for the potentially fatal toxic shock syndrome. And although E. coli is helpful within the digestive system, if it is ingested and enters the bloodstream it causes severe cramping, diarrhea, and possibly even death. Most forms of food preservation, such as freezing and drying, are designed to kill or inactivate bacteria that would otherwise damage food or cause disease. One of the most common methods of destroying bacteria in foods is pasteurization. Pasteurization is the process of heating a food product to a particular temperature for some given period of time. The temperature and time are selected to be sure that all bacteria in the food are killed by the process. The pasteurization of milk has made it possible to insure safe supplies of one of the most popular of all human foods. http://www.scienceclarified.com/As-Bi/Bacteria.html

Related Questions

When are antibiotics not effective?

An antibiotic might not work because the symptoms are attributed to a virus rather than a bacterium. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.


Why are antibiotics not given unless a serious infection?

Bacteria can become immune to antibiotics and the antibiotics will not work in the future when you need them. They only work against bacteria and cold and flu are caused by viruses.


Do Antibiotics only work on bacteria or virus?

Antibiotics only work on bacteria.


How does antibiotics fight a cold?

Antibiotics work against bacterial infections only. They either prevent the bacteria from multiplying or they affect the cell contents of the bacteria and stop the bacteria from constructing their cell wall. However, antibiotics won't work against cold because common cold is caused by a virus. Since virus contains only RNA and is non-living outside host cell, i.e.,there is no cell wall in viruses. so, antibiotics do not work against them. Therefore, it is not advisable to have antibiotics to fight off a cold.


Can your 2 year old baby catch the flu if already on antibiotics?

Yes. Antibiotics work against bacteria. Influenza is caused by a virus.


What group of antibiotics vancomycin belongs to?

Vancomycin belongs to the class of antibiotics known as glycopeptides. These antibiotics work by inhibiting cell wall synthesis in certain bacteria, making them effective against a variety of gram-positive bacteria.


Why don't you treat a virus with antibiotics?

antibiotics are only affective against bacteria, and a virus is different then bacteria


What type of antoboitics work against viruses?

It's called NONE. Antibiotics are for bacteria. They are not for virus because they don't work on virus.


Do antibiotics work on bacteria?

not on viruses though because viruses arent "alive" they are not living creatures, they are inanimate objects and other words for not alive


Why isn't flu treated with antibiotics?

Antibiotics are useful against bacteria; they do not do anything about viruses.


Which antibiotics can be taken with Tamiflu?

You shouldnt take antibiotics for a flu infection. Antibiotics only work against infections caused by bacteria, fungi and some parasites. They don't work against any infections caused by viruses. Viruses cause colds, the flu and most coughs and sore throats.


Can Antibiotics treat a virus?

No. Antibiotics only treat bacteria - and each antibiotic has a different group of bacteria it can treat. Antivirals such as acyclovir, foscarnet, and ganciclovir treat some viruses, and others have no treatment other than supportive therapy: fluids, fever control, etc.