Antibiotic

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Antibiotics are defined as "substances that reduce the growth or reproduction of bacteria."[1] They interfere with the life cycle of bacteria in a number of different ways. Some antibiotics, like penicillin, interfere with cell wall synthesis, while other are reverse transcriptase inhibitors that interefere with the production of viral RNA and DNA. Other antibiotics are nucleoside analogs that get incorporated into the viral RNA or DNA and act a chain terminators.

Misuse

One study on respiratory tract infections found "physicians were more likely to prescribe antibiotics to patients who they believed expected them, although they correctly identified only about 1 in 4 of those patients".[2] Multifactorial interventions aimed at both physicians and patients can reduce inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics. [3] Delaying antibiotics for 48 hours while observing for spontaneous resolution of respiratory tract infections may reduce antibiotic usage; however, this strategy may reduce patient satisfaction.[4]

List of antibiotics for systemic use

Penicillin-like, beta-lactam drugs

to be catagorized yet

References

  1. ↑ National Library of Medicine. Antiobiotics. Retrieved on 2007-11-15.
  2. ↑ Ong S, Nakase J, Moran GJ, Karras DJ, Kuehnert MJ, Talan DA (2007). "Antibiotic use for emergency department patients with upper respiratory infections: prescribing practices, patient expectations, and patient satisfaction". Annals of emergency medicine 50 (3): 213-20. DOI:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2007.03.026. PMID 17467120. Research Blogging.
  3. ↑ Metlay JP, Camargo CA, MacKenzie T, et al (2007). "Cluster-randomized trial to improve antibiotic use for adults with acute respiratory infections treated in emergency departments". Annals of emergency medicine 50 (3): 221-30. DOI:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2007.03.022. PMID 17509729. Research Blogging.
  4. ↑ Spurling G, Del Mar C, Dooley L, Foxlee R (2007). "Delayed antibiotics for respiratory infections". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (3): CD004417. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD004417.pub3. PMID 17636757. Research Blogging.
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