Which class of drugs is used to treat bacterial infections by killing bacteria or inhibiting growth?

• A. Vaccines
• B. Antivirals
• C. Antibiotics
• D. Disinfectants

Answer: (C)

Antibiotics are drugs designed to treat bacterial infections by either killing the bacteria or stopping their growth. They exploit differences between bacteria and human cells, such as targeting bacterial cell wall formation, bacterial ribosomes for protein synthesis, or bacterial DNA replication. Some antibiotics are bactericidal, meaning they kill bacteria; others are bacteriostatic, meaning they stop bacteria from multiplying so the immune system can eliminate them. This is different from vaccines, which are used to prevent infections by training the immune system to recognize pathogens, antivirals which target viruses, and disinfectants which kill microbes on surfaces and aren’t used to treat infections inside the body. Proper use of antibiotics helps prevent resistance and reduces complications from bacterial infections.