What is the strongest antibiotic pill?

Prescriptions of the extremely powerful antibiotic vancomycin—one of the only drugs effective against the scary skin infection, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)—increased by 27 percent.

Is one antibiotic stronger than another?

But the full treatment is necessary to kill the disease-causing bacteria. Failure to take an antibiotic as prescribed can result in the need to resume treatment later and may promote the spread of antibiotic-resistant properties among harmful bacteria.

Why do doctors use different antibiotics?

Each antibiotic is effective only against certain bacteria. In selecting an antibiotic to treat a person with an infection, doctors estimate which bacteria are likely to be the cause. For example, some infections are caused only by certain types of bacteria.

What are antibiotics and how do they work?

What are antibiotics? Antibiotics are powerful medicines used to treat certain illnesses. However, antibiotics do not cure everything, and unnecessary antibiotics can even be harmful. There are 2 main types of germs that cause most infections. These are viruses and bacteria.

Are anti-antibiotics the right choice for all infections?

Antibiotics are not the correct choice for all infections. For example, most sore throats, cough and colds, flu or acute sinusitis are viral in origin (not bacterial) and do not need an antibiotic.

What are the pros and cons of taking antibiotics?

Ask your doctor about the benefits and drawbacks of taking antibiotics for your diagnosis. Following are a few pros and cons of taking antibiotics: Antibiotics can slow the growth of and kill many types of infection.

Is antibiotic resistance curbing the effectiveness of antibiotics?

But growing antibiotic resistance is curbing the effectiveness of these drugs. Taking an antibiotic as directed, even after symptoms disappear, is key to curing an infection and preventing the development of resistant bacteria. Antibiotics don’t work against viral infections such as colds or the flu.