RESPONSIBLE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS SAVES LIVES
About Author
Derle Nikita D
MVP College of Pharmacy,
Nashik, Maharashtra, India
nicks.patil@yahoo.com
The discovery of antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics) was one of the most significant medical achievements of the 20th century. The term antibiotics literally means "against life"; in this case, against microbes. There are many types of antibiotics--antibacterials, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics. Some drugs are effective against many organisms; these are called broadspectrum antibiotics. Others are effective against just a few organisms and are called narrowspectrum antibiotics. The most commonly used antibiotics are antibacterials. There are several types of antimicrobials--antibacterials, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitic drugs. (Although antibacterials are often referred to by the general term antibiotics, we will use the more precise term.) Of course, antimicrobials aren’t magic bullets that can heal every disease. When used at the right time, they can cure many serious and life threatening illnesses.