NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infection. They kill bacteria or prevent them from reproducing and spreading. Antibiotics aren’t effective against viral infections. This includes the common cold, flu, most coughs and sore throats.

Detailed explanation-2: -Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria. But they don’t treat infections caused by viruses (viral infections). For example, an antibiotic is the correct treatment for strep throat, which is caused by bacteria.

Detailed explanation-3: -Some antibiotics affect a wide range of bacteria. They are called broad spectrum antibiotics (eg, amoxicillin and gentamicin). Some antibiotics affect only a few types of bacteria. They are narrow spectrum antibiotics (eg, penicillin).

Detailed explanation-4: -Indeed, modern antibiotics act either on processes that are unique to bacteria–such as the synthesis of cell walls or folic acid–or on bacterium-specific targets within processes that are common to both bacterium and human cells, including protein or DNA replication.