The Problem With Antibiotics
James Schafer
Background Information
Bacteria are single-celled organisms found all over the inside and outside of our bodies. Many bacteria are not harmful. In fact, some are actually helpful, including the majority of bacteria that live in our intestines (guts). However, disease-causing bacteria can cause illnesses such as strep throat. Viruses, on the other hand, are microbes that are even smaller than bacteria that cannot survive outside the body's cells. They cause illness by invading healthy cells and using the cell to reproduce.
Antibiotics, also known as antimicrobial drugs, are drugs that fight infections caused by bacteria in both humans and animals. Antibiotics fight these infections either by killing the bacteria or making it difficult for the bacteria to grow and multiply. They do this by either directly attacking the bacteria's cell wall or infiltration the bacteria. Antibiotics do not have any effect on viruses.