Folk Medicine Essay Research Paper Antibiotics have

Folk Medicine Essay, Research Paper

Antibiotics have played a major role in our society thanks to Sir Alexander Fleming’s careful observations in 1928. Without it, many lives would be in danger due to infectious diseases.

Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by various species of microorganisms and other living systems that are capable in small concentrations of inhibiting the growth of or killing bacteria and other microorganisms. These organisms can be bacteria, viruses, fungi, or animals called protozoa. A particular group of these agents is made up of drugs called antibiotics, from the Greek word anti (”against”) and bios (”life”). Some antibiotics are produced from living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and molds. Others are wholly or in part synthetic – that is, produced artificially.

Penicillin is perhaps the best known antibiotic. Its discovery and later development is among mankind’s greatest achievements. Antibiotics have enabled the medical profession to treat effectively many infectious diseases, including some that were once life-threatening.

How Antibiotics Work.

Antibiotics can be bacteriostatic (bacteria stopped from multiplying) or bactericidal (bacteria killed). To perform either of these functions, antibiotics must be brought into contact with the bacteria.

It is believed that antibiotics interfere with the surface of bacteria cells, causing a change in their ability to reproduce. Testing the action of an antibiotic in the laboratory shows how much exposure to the drug is necessary to halt reproduction or to kill the bacteria. Although a large amount of an antibiotic taken at one time might kill the bacteria causing an illness, such a dose usually would make the person suffer from illness caused by the drug. Therefore, antibiotics are given in a series of smaller amounts. This assures that the bacteria are either killed or reduced enough in numbers so that the body can repel them. When too little antibiotic is taken, bacteria can often develop methods to protect themselves against it . The next time the antibiotic is needed against these bacteria, it will not be effective.

Taking in Antibiotics.

To work against infecting organisms, an antibiotic can be applied externally, such as to a cut on the skin’s surface, or internally, reaching the bloodstream within the body. Antibiotics are made in several forms and given in different ways.

Topical. Topical application means “to a local area” such as on the skin, in the eyes, or on the mucous membrane. Antibiotics for topical use are available in the form of powders, ointments, or creams.

Oral. Tablets, liquids, and capsules are swallowed. The antibiotic is released in the small intestine to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Troches, or lozenges, are allowed to dissolve in the mouth, where the antibiotic is absorbed through the mucous membrane.

Parenteral. Applications outside the intestine are called parenteral. One form is an injection, which can be subcutaneous (under the skin), intramuscular (into a muscle), or intravenous (into a vein). Parenteral administration of an antibiotic is used when a physician requires a strong, quick concentration of the antibiotic in the bloodstream.

Manufacture.

Natural. At one time all antibiotics were made from living organisms. This process, known as biosynthesis, is still used in the manufacture of some antibiotics. It is actually the organisms that manufacture the antibiotic. The people involved merely provide favorable conditions for the organisms to do the work and then they collect the drug. For example, mold organisms are placed in a medium (a substance used for the growth of microorganisms) such as corn steep liquor to which milk sugar has been added. This forms a broth that is put into a tank, which is kept at a temperature of 25*C and shaken for more than 100 hours. The mold organisms grow rapidly in this warm soup, producing penicillin as they do so. The penicillin is later extracted.

Synthetic. All penicillin types have an identical chemical nucleus called a ring. The chemical chain that is attached to the ring is different in each type. By changing the molecules of the chain, scientists devise drugs with potentially different effects on different organisms. Some of these drugs are useful in treating infections, some are not.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers now use computer-generated images of the rings and experiment with an endless variety of possible chains. Researchers have developed antibiotics with long half- lives (period of effectiveness), which allow taking the medication once in 24 hours instead of every few hours. The newer antibiotics are also more effective against a wider range of infections than were earlier drugs.

Varieties of Antibiotics.

There are dozens of antibiotics. The following are in common use:

Penicillins. The various types of penicillins make up a large group of antibacterial antibiotics of which only those from benzyl penicillin are naturally produced from molds. Penicillin G and ampicillin are in this class. Another penicillin, called piperacillin, has been shown to be effective against 92 percent of infections without causing serious side effects. Penicillins are often given in combination with some of the following categories of drugs.

Cephalosporins. Similar

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