Antimicrobial drugs
Antimicrobial Drugs
Antimicrobial drugs (pronunciation: an-ti-mi-kro-bi-al drugs) are a type of medication used to treat infections caused by microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The term "antimicrobial" comes from the Greek words 'anti' (against), 'mikros' (small), and 'bios' (life).
Types of Antimicrobial Drugs
There are several types of antimicrobial drugs, each designed to combat a specific type of microorganism:
- Antibiotics: These are used to treat bacterial infections. They work by either killing the bacteria or inhibiting their growth.
- Antiviral drugs: These are used to treat viral infections. They work by inhibiting the replication of the virus within the host organism.
- Antifungal drugs: These are used to treat fungal infections. They work by disrupting the cell wall of the fungus, causing it to die.
- Antiparasitic drugs: These are used to treat parasitic infections. They work by killing the parasite or inhibiting its growth.
Mechanism of Action
Antimicrobial drugs work by targeting specific components of the microorganisms they are designed to combat. For example, many antibiotics target the cell walls of bacteria, as these are different from the cell walls of the host organism. This allows the antibiotic to kill the bacteria without harming the host.
Resistance to Antimicrobial Drugs
A major concern with the use of antimicrobial drugs is the development of drug resistance. This occurs when microorganisms evolve in ways that make them less susceptible to the drugs designed to kill them. This can make infections more difficult to treat and can lead to increased mortality rates.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Antimicrobial drugs
- Wikipedia's article - Antimicrobial drugs
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