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Antibiotics

Definition

Antibiotics are medicines that help stop infections by killing bacteria or preventing them from reproducing.

Analogy

Imagine antibiotics as pest control for your body. Just like how pest control eliminates unwanted bugs from your house, antibiotics eliminate harmful bacteria from your body.

Related terms

Penicillin: The first antibiotic discovered by Alexander Fleming that has saved millions of lives by combating bacterial infections.

Drug Resistance: When disease-causing organisms adapt to drugs designed to kill them making treatments less effective.

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life).

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.