Antibiotics are powerful medicines that fight bacterial infections. Used properly, antibiotics can save lives. They either kill bacteria or keep them from reproducing. Your body's natural defences can usually take it from there.
Antibiotics are a group of medicines that are used to treat infections. Antibiotics are sometimes called antibacterial or antimicrobials. Antibiotics can be taken by mouth as liquids, tablets, or capsules, or they can be given by injection. Usually, people who need to have an antibiotic by injection are in hospital because they have a severe infection.
Antibiotics are also available as creams, ointments, or lotions to apply to the skin to treat certain skin infections. It is important to remember that antibiotics only work against infections that are caused by bacteria and certain parasites.