Antibiotics: Introduction, History, Mechanism and Applications
Introduction Antibiotics are chemical compounds designed to fight bacterial infections. Unlike antiviral medications (which target viruses) or antifungal drugs (which treat fungal infections), antibiotics specifically act against bacteria—unicellular organisms that can reproduce on their own. Depending on their mechanism of action, antibiotics can either: Kill bacteria outright (bactericidal), or Inhibit bacterial growth and reproduction (bacteriostatic). […]