8 Most Common Misconceptions About Antibiotics

Antibiotics have been the main way of treating a variety of bacterial infections, against which humanity was absolutely powerless 150 years ago. The widespread use of antibacterial drugs has caused various misunderstandings in society regarding the use and nature of the action of these drugs.

The presented publication is devoted to the analysis of the eight most common misconceptions about antibiotics.

Myth 1. Good Antibiotics Aren’t Cheap

That’s not true. For example, if you do not use the original “Amoxicillin” (a universal antibiotic effective against more than 30 types of bacterial pathogens), and its generic Augmentin cost of a standard course of treatment (5-7 days) will not exceed even $ 50.

Myth 2. Antibiotics Help with Any Infectious Diseases

Antibiotics help cure not any infectious diseases, but only those caused by bacterial pathogens, such as staphylococci, streptococci, etc.

But with diseases of a viral nature (for example, COVID-19), antibiotics are completely useless. They can be prescribed for the treatment of complications caused by the pathogenic effect of the virus (for example, COVID pneumonia), but antibacterial drugs have no effect on the virus itself.

Myth 3. It is Best to Drink Those Antibiotics That Have Previously Helped to Recover

No, you need to drink those antibiotics that correspond to the current (!) disease. In addition, taking the same antibacterial drug can cause pathogens to develop resistance to its action — and this is an extremely undesirable scenario.

Myth 4. Antibiotics Should Be Taken for at Least 7 Days

The duration of the course of therapy with antibacterial drugs depends on the characteristics of the disease and in all cases is determined by the attending physician.

For example, with acute rhinosinusitis, antibiotics are taken for 3-5 days, but with exacerbation of chronic prostatitis, the average course is at least two weeks.

Myth 5. You Should Stop Taking Antibiotics Immediately after the Disappearance of Symptoms to Prevent Addiction

The absence of symptoms does not mean that the pathogen has completely disappeared. For this reason, antibiotics are drunk for at least 2-3 days after the symptoms of the disease have disappeared.

Myth 6. Antibiotics Kill the Beneficial Microflora in the Intestine

Firstly, many antibacterial drugs of recent generations have a selective nature of action and do not affect the intestinal microflora. And secondly, this problem is solved by taking probiotics that normalize the level of beneficial bacteria in the intestine.

Myth 7. Antibiotics Can Be Taken as Preventive Measure

The action of antibacterial drugs is aimed at destroying pathogenic bacteria that have caused the disease. If the body is not infected, then taking antibiotics will be equivalent to shooting past the target.

Myth 8: It’s Better Not to Use Antibiotics Since They Have a Risk of Harming the Body

The most dangerous misconception, following which some patients bring themselves to intensive care. Antibiotics should be taken when there is a need for it — like how cancer patients are forced to undergo extremely unprofitable chemotherapy.

Attempts to leave the body alone with the disease is like playing Russian roulette, where losing means death.