Antibiotic Definition - Types & Side Effects

Antibiotic Definition

Antibiotics are defined as the chemical compounds that are responsible for killing or stopping the growth of bacteria. Truly speaking, antibiotics are defined as a further class of organic anti-infective agents that are usually produced from bacteria or molds that are toxic to many other bacteria and can kill them. However the term "antibiotic" is now used in an easy way to refer to anti-infectives produced from synthetic and semisynthetic compounds.

History Of Antibiotic Production

Going back to 1928, Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming saw some colonies of bacteria that were growing on a culture plate, and these colonies had been affected by a mould species. Some more important events related to the antibiotic invention and its production are discussed below:

• Another biochemist Ernst Chain, Australian Pathologist Howard Florey, and other scientists later on invented that isolated active ingredient that was responsible for killing the bacteria. They named it penicillium.

• The penicillium species were formed on the contaminated bacterial culture and it killed the bacteria which were surrounding it.

• Later on, penicillium was one of the most effective tools against some of the serious bacterial infections.

• There are different types of penicillin available today to treat different bacterial infections.

• By the 1950s there had been several chemical modifications made to the penicillin molecule which led to the formation of semisynthetic penicillin.

Different Types Of Antibiotics

There have been several modifications made to penicillin since it was developed. Several forms of antibiotics were formed to fight several diseases which are based on bacterial infections. Some of the major antibiotics and their backgrounds and treatments are discussed below:

Mechanism Of Action Of Antibiotics

Antibiotics work by targeting specific structures or functions of bacteria. They may inhibit cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, nucleic acid replication, or metabolic pathways. This either kills the bacteria (bactericidal) or stops their growth (bacteriostatic), helping the immune system clear the infection. The table mentioned below contains all the steps which are involved in the mechanism of antibiotics.

Side Effects Of Antibiotics

Regular use of antibiotics can lead to certain side effects which can be serious. Antibiotics with their side effects are mentioned in the table below:

Tips, Tricks, And Strategies To Prepare For Antibiotics

It's hard to remember everything in a single go. We made the entire problem easy. Some of the tricks regarding antibiotics are given below which you can use to memorize the important points.

ANTIBIOTICS: Important Points

• A: Antimicrobial

• N: Not for Viruses

• T: treatment for Bacterial Infections

• I: inhibits the growth of Bacteria

• B: works against Bacterial Resistance

• O: oral / IV use

• T: Test for Effectiveness

• I: interactions

• C: Common side effects are nausea, diarrhoea and allergic reactions.

Classification of Antibiotics

• P: Penicillin

• C: cephalosporins

• T: tetracycline

• M: Macrolides

• S: Sulfonamides

Side effects mnemonics

• N: Nausea

• D: Diarrhea

• A: Allergic reactions

• H: Hearing Loss

• K: Kidney Stones

Types Of Questions Asked On Antibiotics

During the preparation of the exam, there are different types of questions asked about Antibiotics in different forms. The table given below contains the different patterns of questions asked in different exams.

Weightage Of Antibiotics In Different Entrance Exams

It is important to keep weightage of the topic in mind throughout the preparation. The weightage of antibiotics in different exams is mentioned below in the table:

MCQs in Antibiotics

Q1. Assertion: Microbes are used to produce antibiotics.

Reason: Antibiotics are compounds produced by microbes that can kill or inhibit the growth of other microbes.

1. Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

2. Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.

3. The assertion is true, but the reason is false.

4. The assertion is false, but the reason is true.

Correct answer: 1) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

Explanation:

Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion. Microbes are indeed used to produce antibiotics, and antibiotics are compounds produced by microbes that can kill or inhibit the growth of other microbes. Antibiotics are widely used in medicine to treat bacterial infections and have saved countless lives.

Option(B) Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is indeed the correct explanation of the assertion. Microbes are used to produce antibiotics, and antibiotics are compounds produced by microbes that can kill or inhibit the growth of other microbes. Hence option B is incorrect.

Option(C) The reason given in the statement is true. Antibiotics are compounds produced by microbes that can kill or inhibit the growth of other microbes. Therefore, this option is not correct as it suggests that the reason is false. Hence option C is incorrect.

Option(D) The assertion is true. Microbes are commonly used in the production of antibiotics, and this fact is supported by various examples, including the use of Penicillium mold to produce penicillin. Therefore, this option is not correct as it suggests that the assertion is false. Hence option D is incorrect.

Hence, the correct option is (A) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

Q2. Fungicides and antibiotics are chemicals that:

1. Enhance yield and disease resistance

2. Kill pathogenic fungi and bacteria, respectively

3. Kill all pathogenic microbes

4. Kill pathogenic bacteria and fungi respectively.

Correct answer: 2) Kill pathogenic fungi and bacteria, respectively

Explanation:

Fungicides and antibiotics are both chemicals used to combat infections, but they target different types of organisms. Fungicides are used to control or eliminate fungi, often in agriculture, by disrupting the growth or function of fungal cells. On the other hand, antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial infections by inhibiting bacterial growth or killing bacteria, and they are often used in medicine to treat human, animal, or plant infections. While both are essential for disease control, fungicides target fungi, and antibiotics target bacteria.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2) kills pathogenic fungi and bacteria, respectively.

Also Read:

• MCQs on Microbes Role in Industrial Products

• Plant Breeding

• Biofuel

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What are four types of antibiotics?
The four types include broad-spectrum, narrow-spectrum, bactericidal, and bacteriostatic antibiotics.

Q2. What antibiotic kills all infections?
No single antibiotic kills all infections, doctors prescribe antibiotics based on the type of bacteria causing the infection.

Q3. What was the first antibiotic?
Penicillin was the first antibiotic discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928.

Q4. Who is the father of antibiotics?
Alexander Fleming is known as the father of antibiotics for discovering penicillin.

Q5. What is penicillin used for?
Penicillin is used to treat bacterial infections like pneumonia, throat infections, and skin diseases.

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