Which statement about infections is correct?

Which statement about infections is correct?

• A. Antibiotics kill all bacteria in the digestive system
• B. Antibiotics are effective against viruses
• C. Many bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics
• D. Bacteria in the gut must be eliminated with antibiotics

Answer: (C)

Antibiotics are designed to kill or inhibit bacteria, not viruses, so they’re used for bacterial infections while illnesses caused by viruses won’t respond to them. The statement that many bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics is correct because a lot of bacterial illnesses do respond to antibiotic therapy, though not every infection is bacterial and some bacteria may be resistant or the infection may require other care. Antibiotics do not wipe out all bacteria in the digestive system; they can disturb gut flora but don’t eliminate every bacterium. In fact, preserving beneficial gut bacteria is an important consideration, and unnecessary use of antibiotics can cause more harm than good. Eliminating gut bacteria is not something antibiotics are used to accomplish.

Antibiotics are designed to kill or inhibit bacteria, not viruses, so they’re used for bacterial infections while illnesses caused by viruses won’t respond to them. The statement that many bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics is correct because a lot of bacterial illnesses do respond to antibiotic therapy, though not every infection is bacterial and some bacteria may be resistant or the infection may require other care. Antibiotics do not wipe out all bacteria in the digestive system; they can disturb gut flora but don’t eliminate every bacterium. In fact, preserving beneficial gut bacteria is an important consideration, and unnecessary use of antibiotics can cause more harm than good. Eliminating gut bacteria is not something antibiotics are used to accomplish.