ANTIBIOTICS – DESCRIPTION

These drugs are bacteriostatic — that is, they do not kill the germ but inhibit its growth, and the body’s own defence mechanism can then overcome the infection.

They still have some advantages in that they readily cross from the blood into the fluid inside the brain and spinal cord, which many newer antibiotics don’t. They are thus useful in treating bacterial meningitis, an infection of the covering membranes of the brain.

Insoluble forms, which are not absorbed, are used to sterilise the bowel.

Some people become sensitised to the sulphonamides and can develop an allergic rash or other allergic symptoms.

A recently developed antibiotic combines a sul-phonamide with an antibiotic of the tetracycline group, trimethoprim.

These complement each other’s action to a considerable degree and make the drug bacteriocidal in some circumstances — that is, it kills the germ rather than inhibiting its growth.

This antibiotic is marketed in Australia as Septrin and Bactrim.

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