Antibiotics Flashcards

All 4 cards in this deck

What type of infection can antibiotics be used to treat?

Bacterial infections only.

How do antibiotics kill or stop bacteria without harming the patient?

They inhibit cell processes in the bacteria (e.g. disrupt cell walls), so bacteria are killed or their growth/reproduction stops, but they do not affect the host cells.

Give one reason why antibiotics are not used to treat the common cold.

Antibiotics do not kill viruses — they only kill bacteria, and the cold is caused by a virus.

Why can chlamydia be treated with antibiotics?

Chlamydia is caused by bacteria, and the bacteria are killed/inhibited by antibiotics.