Antibiotics are medications used to fight infections caused by bacteria. They’re also called antibacterials. They treat infections by killing or decreasing the growth of bacteria.
The first modern-day antibiotic was used in 1936. Before antibiotics, 30 percentTrusted Source of all deaths in the United States were caused by bacterial infections. Thanks to antibiotics, previously fatal infections are curable.
Today, antibiotics are still powerful, lifesaving medications for people with certain serious infections. They can also prevent less serious infections from becoming serious.
There are many classes of antibiotics. Certain types of antibiotics work best for specific types of bacterial infections.
Antibiotics come in many forms, including:
tablets
capsules
liquids
creams
ointments
Most antibiotics are only available with a prescription from your doctor. Some antibiotic creams and ointments are available over the counter.
