Antibiotic - Wikipedia
An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the …
Antibiotics 101: List of Common Names, Types & Their Uses
Dec 6, 2025 · Antibiotics specifically treat infections caused by bacteria, such as Staph., Strep., or E. coli., and either kill the bacteria (bactericidal) or keep it from reproducing and growing …
Antibiotic | Definition, Types, Side Effects, Resistance ...
Dec 25, 2025 · Antibiotic, chemical substance produced by a living organism, generally a microorganism, that is detrimental to other microorganisms. Antibiotics came into worldwide …
Overview of Antibiotics - Infections - Merck Manual Consumer Version
Antibiotics are medications used to treat bacterial infections. They are not effective against viral infections and most other infections. Antibiotics either kill bacteria or stop them from reproducing, …
Antibiotics: What They Are, How to Take Them, Side Effects
Mar 13, 2024 · Antibiotics are medicines that help stop infections caused by bacteria. They do this by killing the bacteria or by keeping them from copying themselves or reproducing. The word antibiotic …
Common Antibiotics: Names, Types, and When to Use Them
Dec 16, 2025 · Antibiotics are medicines that are used to treat certain kinds of bacterial infections. They work to clear up infections either by killing bacteria or stopping their growth. Antibiotics typically have …
Antibiotics: Uses, Types, Side Effects - Health
Nov 21, 2025 · Antibiotics kill bacteria using different mechanisms depending on the antibiotic class. They only treat bacterial infections, not viruses like the common cold or flu. Taking antibiotics as...
Antibiotics: What To Know - Cleveland Clinic
The chart below lists some of the antibiotic classes used in the U.S. along with examples of the individual medicines your provider might prescribe. These are just a few of the many available types …
Antibiotics: How they work, uses, side effects and how to use
Apr 17, 2025 · Antibiotics work by killing bacteria and preventing them from multiplying. Common antibiotics include penicillin and amoxicillin. Doctors may also use azithromycin and doxycycline for …
Know When and How to Use Antibiotics, and When to Skip Them | FDA
Antibiotics treat only some infections caused by bacteria – and none caused by viruses. Most often, antibiotics work by killing the targeted bacteria or by making it difficult for the bacteria...