Which statement about antibiotics is true?

Which statement about antibiotics is true?

• A. They are effective against viruses.
• B. They are used to treat bacterial infections.
• C. They have no side effects.
• D. They are used to treat fungal infections.

Answer: (B)

Antibiotics are drugs that specifically target bacteria and are used to treat bacterial infections. They work by interfering with essential bacterial processes, such as cell-wall synthesis or protein synthesis, which bacteria need to grow and reproduce. Because viruses replicate inside human cells and rely on the host's machinery, antibiotics do not disrupt viral processes, so they’re not effective against viruses. They can have side effects and aren’t always appropriate for every infection, and infections caused by fungi are treated with antifungal medications, not antibiotics. Therefore, the statement that antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections is the true one.

Antibiotics are drugs that specifically target bacteria and are used to treat bacterial infections. They work by interfering with essential bacterial processes, such as cell-wall synthesis or protein synthesis, which bacteria need to grow and reproduce. Because viruses replicate inside human cells and rely on the host's machinery, antibiotics do not disrupt viral processes, so they’re not effective against viruses. They can have side effects and aren’t always appropriate for every infection, and infections caused by fungi are treated with antifungal medications, not antibiotics. Therefore, the statement that antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections is the true one.