What type of medicine kills or inhibits bacteria inside the body?

What type of medicine kills or inhibits bacteria inside the body? The answer is an antibiotic.

Antibiotics are medicines used against bacterial infections. Some are bactericidal, meaning they kill bacteria; others are bacteriostatic, meaning they stop bacteria from growing and multiplying. Their targets can include bacterial cell walls, ribosomes, DNA replication, or essential metabolic pathways.

The modern antibiotic era is closely associated with Alexander Fleming’s 1928 discovery of penicillin. Large-scale production during the 1940s transformed the treatment of infections that had once been frequently fatal. The word “antibiotic” comes from Greek roots meaning “against life.”

A common mix-up is confusing antibiotics with antiviral medicines. Antibiotics do not treat viruses such as influenza or most common colds. Misuse and overuse can select for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is why the drug and course should be used as directed. Antibiotics can also affect helpful bacteria and sometimes cause side effects such as diarrhea.