ANTIBIOTICS-AN INVESTIGATORY PROJ ECT

Antibiotics are Chemical Substances that produce chemicals to produce new microorganisms in
order to inhibit or surpress growth of other micoorganisms(Bacteria, Fungi or Protozoa)
The term antibiotic was first used in 1942 by Selman Waksman and his collaborators in journal
articles to describe any substance produced by a microorganism that is antagonistic to the growth of
other microorganisms in high dilution.
With advances in medicinal chemistry, most modern antibacterials are semisynthetic modifications
of various natural compounds.
[4]
These include, for example, the beta-lactam antibiotics, which
include the penicillins (produced by fungi in the genus Penicillium), the cephalosporins, and
the carbapenems. Compounds that are still isolated from living organisms are the aminoglycosides,
whereas other antibacterialsfor example, the sulfonamides, the quinolones, and
the oxazolidinonesare produced solely by chemical synthesis. In accordance with this, many
antibacterial compounds are classified on the basis of chemical/biosynthetic origin into natural,
semisynthetic, and synthetic. Another classification system is based on biological activity; in this
classification, antibacterials are divided into two broad groups according to their biological effect on
microorganisms: Bactericidal agents kill bacteria, and bacteriostatic agents slow down or stall
bacterial growth.

History of Antibiotics
History of antibiotics can be described in two segments as under:
Early History
During ancient times;
Greeks and Indians used moulds and other plants to treat infections.
In Greece and Serbia, bread mould was traditionally used to treat wounds and infections.
Warm soil was used in Russia by peasants to cure infected wounds.
Sumerian doctors gave patients beer soup mixed with turtle shells and snake skins.
Babylonian doctors healed the eyes using a mixture of frog bile and sour milk.
Sri Lankan army used oil cake (sweetmeat) to server both as desiccant and antibacterial.
MODERN HISTORY
Year Origin Description
1640 England
John Parkington recommended using mold for
treatment in his book on pharmacology
1870 England
Sir John Scott Burdon-Sanderson observed that
culture fluid covered with mould did not produce
bacteria
1871 England
Joseph Lister experimented with the antibacterial
action on human tissue on what he called
Penicillium glaucium
1875 England
John Tyndall explained antibacterial action of the
Penicillium fungus to the Royal Society
1877 France
Louis Pasteur postulated that bacteria could kill
other bacteria (anthrax bacilli)
1897 France
Ernest Duchesne healed infected guinea pigs
from typhoid using mould (Penicillium glaucium)
1928 England
Sir Alexander Fleming discovered enzyme
lysozyme and the antibiotic substance penicillin
from the fungus Penicillium notatum
1932 Germany
Gerhard Domagk discovered
Sulfonamidochrysoidine (Prontosil )

During 1940's and 50's streptomycin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline were discovered and
Selman Waksman used the term "antibiotics" to describe them (1942).
Reason for discovery: - this was the period of world war 2. So as to serve injured soldiers and to
treat them quickly, scientists searched for new cure. Thus soon, after many new antibiotics were
discovered.



THE DISCOVERY OF PENICILLIN
In 1928, bacteriologist Alexander Fleming made a chance discovery from an
already discarded, contaminated Petri dish. The mold that had contaminated
the experiment turned out to contain a powerful antibiotic, penicillin.
However, though Fleming was credited with the discovery, it was over a
decade before someone else turned penicillin into the miracle drug for the
20th century.
Penicillin (sometimes abbreviated PCN or pen) is a group of antibiotics derived
from Penicillium fungi,
[1]
including penicillin G (IV use), penicillin V (oral use), procaine penicillin,
and benzathine penicillin (intramuscular use).
Penicillin antibiotics were among the first drugs to be effective against many previously serious
diseases, such as syphilis and infections caused by staphylococci and streptococci. Penicillins are
still widely used today, though misuse has now made many types of bacteria resistant. All penicillins
are -lactam antibiotics and are used in the treatment of bacterial infections caused by susceptible,
usually Gram-positive, organisms.
Classification of antibiotics
Classifications
A common scheme of classifications for antibiotics is drawn below:

Antibiotics can also be classified based on their chemical structure. A similar level of effectiveness,
toxicity and side-effects is rendered by the antibiotics of same structural group. Broad spectrum
antibiotics are effective against a broad range of microorganisms in comparison to narrow spectrum
antibiotics. Bactericidal antibiotics kill the bacteria whereas bacteriostatic antibiotics halt the growth
of bacteria.
TYPES OF ANTIBIOTICS
These are the main classes of antibiotics.
Penicillin such as penicillin and amoxicillin
Cephalosporins such as cephalexin(Keflex)
Macrolides such as erythromycin (E-Mycin), clarithromycin (Biaxin), andazithromycin (Zithromax)
Fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin(Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), andofloxacin (Floxin)
Sulfonamides such as co-trimoxazole (Bactrim) and trimethoprim (Proloprim)
Tetracyclines such as tetracycline(Sumycin, Panmycin) and doxycycline(Vibramycin)
Aminoglycosides such as gentamicin (Garamycin) and tobramycin (Tobrex)
Most antibiotics have 2 names, the trade or brand name, created by the drug company that manufactures
the drug, and a generic name, based on the antibiotic's chemical structure or chemical class. Trade
names such as Keflex and Zithromax are capitalized. Generics such as cephalexin and azithromycin are
not capitalized.

MAJOR ANTIBIOTICS
Generic Name(S) Strength Dosage Form ICD Code
Daptomycin 500mg Injection Y40.9
Meropenem
125mg/Vial, 250mg/Vial,
500mg/Vial, 1000mg/Vial
Injection Y40.9
Nitrofurazone 0.2%/1gm
Cream, Ointment,
Powder
Y56
Polymyxin, Bacitracin and
Neomycin
3.5gm, Eye Drops, Ointment Y40.9
Procaine/ Penicillin 600,000 to 1,000,000 units/day Injection Y40.0
Rifaximin 200mg, 550mg, 400mg Tablets

Roxithromycin 50mg, 150mg Tablets Y40
Sisomicin 3mg/3ml Eye drops Y40
Spiramycin 0.375 MIU x 5 mL x 60ml Suspension Y40
Sultamicillin 250mg, 375mg Tablets Y40
Teicoplanin 200mg, 400mg/vial Injection Y40
Telavancin 250 or 750mg/vial Injection Y40
Telithromycin 400mg Tabletss Y40



Cephalosporins
Generic Name(S) Strength Dosage Form ICD Code
Cefaclor 250mg, 500mg Capsule Y40.1
Cefaclor
125mg/5ml, 187mg/5ml,
250mg/5ml, 375mg/5ml
Suspension Y40.1
Cefadroxil 500mg, 1g Capsule,Tablet Y40.1
Cefamandole 1g, 2g/Vial Injection Y40.1
Cefazolin 1g/50ml Injection Y40.1
Cefdinir 300mg Capsule Y40.1
Cefdinir 125mg/5ml Suspension Y40.1
Cefditoren 200 and 400mg. Tablets Y40.1
Cefepime 500mg, 1g, 2g/Vial Injection Y40.1
Cefetamet

Y40.1
Cefixime 100mg/5ml Suspension Y40.1
Cefoperazone
Sodium Injection
10 g/Vial Injection Y40.1
Cefotaxime 500mg, 1g, 2g/Vial Injection Y40.1
Cefotetan 1g, 2g/Vial Injection Y40.1
Cefoxitin 1g, 2g, 10g/Vial Injection Y40.1
Cefpirome

Y40.1
Cefpodoxmine
Proxetil
100g, 200g
Tablets, Oral
Suspension
Y40.1
Cefprozil 250mg, 500mg Tablet Y40.1
Cefprozil 125mg/5ml, 250mg/5ml Suspension Y40.1
Ceftaroline Fosamil
Injection
400g, 600g/Vial Injection Y40.1
Ceftazidime 1g, 2g, 10g/Vial Injection Y40.1
Ceftibuten 400mg
Capsules and Oral
Suspension
Y40.1
Ceftriaxone 500mg, 1g/Vial Injection Y40.1
Cefuroxime 125mg/5ml, 250mg/5ml Suspension Y40.1
Cefuroxime axetil 125mg, 250mg, 500mg Tablet Y40.1
Cephalexin 250mg, 500mg Capsule, Tablet Y40.1
Cephalexin 125mg/5ml, 250mg/5ml Suspension Y40.1
Cephradine 250mg, 500mg Capsule Y40.1
Cephradine 125mg/5ml, 250mg/5ml Suspension Y40.1
Fluoroquinolones
Generic Name(S) Strength Dosage Form ICD Code
Gatifloxacin 200-mg and 400-mg Tablets , Injection, Y40.8
Lomefloxacin 400mg Tablet Y40.8
Pefloxacin 400mg, 0.3%/5ml, 400mg/100ml, 100mg/50ml Tablet, Drop, Injecion Y40.8
Sparfloxacin 100mg, 200mg Tablets Y40.8




Generic Name(S) Strength Dosage Form ICD Code

Y40.3
Azithromycin 1000mg Packet Y40.3
Azithromycin 250mg, 600mg Tablet Y40.3
Azithromycin 100mg/5ml, 200mg/5ml Suspension Y40.3
Azithromycin 2g/60ml Suspension Y40.3
Clarithromycin 250mg, 500mg Tablet Y40.3
Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml, 250mg/5ml Suspension Y40.3
Clarithromycin 500mg Tablet Y40.3
Erythromycin 250mg, 333mg, 500mg Capsule, Tablet Y40.3
Erythromycin 40mg/ml, 200mg/5ml, 400mg/5ml
Drops,
Suspension
Y40.3
Erythromycin Estolate 250mg Capsule Y40.3
Erythromycin Estolate 125mg/5ml, 250mg/5ml Suspension Y40.3
Erythromycin
Ethylsuccinate
200mg, 400mg
Chewtab,
Tablet
Y40.3
Erythromycin
Ethylsuccinate/Sulfisoxazole
40mg/ml, 200mg/5ml,400mg/5ml Suspension Y40.3
Erythromycin Stearate 250mg, 500mg Tablet Y40.3
Fidaxomicin 200mg Tablet Y40.3
Troleandomycin 250mg Capsules Y40.3
Macrolides
Monocyclic Beta-lactam Antibiotic
Generic Name(S) Strength Dosage Form ICD Code
Aztreonam 1 g/vial, 2 g/vial Injection Y40.1
Doripenem 500mg/1vial Injection Y40.1
penicillins
Generic Name(S) Strength Dosage Form ICD Code
Amoxicillin 250mg, 500mg Capsule Y40.0
Amoxicillin
50mg/ml, 125mg/5ml, 200mg/5ml, 250mg/5ml,
400mg/5ml
Drops, Suspension Y40.0
Amoxicillin 125mg, 200mg, 250mg, 400mg Chewable Tablet Y40.0
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate
Potassium
250mg/125mg, 1000mg/62.5mg Tablet Y40.0
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate
Potassium
500mg/125mg, 875mg/125mg Tablet Y40.0
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate
Potassium
125mg/31.5mg, 25mg/62.5mg Chewable Tablet Y40.0
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate
Potassium
200mg/28.3mg, 400mg/57mg Chewable Tablet Y40.0
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate
Potassium
125mg/31.25mg/5ml, 250mg/62.5mg/5ml Suspension Y40.0
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate
Potassium
200mg-28.5mg/5ml, 400mg-57mg/5ml, Suspension Y40.0
Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid
125 mg/5 mL, 200 mg/5 mL, 250 mg/5 mL, 400
mg/5 mL, 125-mg, 200-mg , 250-mg, 400-mg ,
500-mg, 875-mg
Tablets, Oral
Suspension
Y40.0
Ampicillin 250mg, 500mg Capsule Y40.0
Ampicillin 125mg/5ml, 250mg/5ml Suspension Y40.0
Ampicillin and Sulbactam 1.5 g, 3 g vials Injection Y40.0
Bacampicillin

Y40.0
Bacitracin
(Neomycin/Polymyxin B)
Opthalmic
1/2 oz Ointment Y40.0
Dicloxacillin 250mg, 500mg Capsule Y40.0
Mezlocillin sodium

Y40.0
Oxacillin Injection 1gm, 2gm Injection Y40.0
Oxacillin Injection 1gm/50ml, 2gm/50ml Injection Y40.0
Penicillin VK 250mg, 500mg Tablet Y40.0
Penicillin VK 125mg/5ml, 250mg/5ml Suspension Y40.0
Piperacillin/Tazobactam
4000mg/500mg/Vial, 1000mg/125mg/Vial,
2000mg/250mg/Vial
Injection Y40.0

Quinolones
Generic Name(S) Strength Dosage Form ICD Code
Balofloxacin 100mg Tablets Y41.8
Ciprofloxacin 250mg, 500mg, 750mg Tablet Y41.8
Ciprofloxacin 250mg/5ml, 500mg/5ml Suspension Y41.8
Garenoxacin Mesylate

Y41.8
Levofloxacin 250mg, 500mg Tablet Y41.8
Nalidixic Acid
125mg, 300mg, 150mg,
300mg/5ml
Tablet, Suspension,
Syrup
Y41.8
Sulfonamides
Generic Name(S) Strength Dosage Form ICD Code

Y41.0
Sulfadiazine 500mg Tablet Y41.0
Sulfisoxazole 500mg Tablet Y41.0
Sulfisoxazole 500mg/5ml Suspension Y41.0
Sulfisoxazole/Erythromycin
Ethylsuccinate
600mg+200mg/5ml Suspension Y41.0
Sulfisoxazole/Phenazopyridine 500mg + 50mg Tablet Y41.0
Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole 80mg/400mg Tablet Y41.0
Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole 40mg+200mg/5ml Suspension Y41.0
Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole DS 160mg/800mg Tablet Y41.0
Tetracyclines
Generic Name(S) Strength Dosage Form ICD Code
Demeclocycline 150mg, 300mg Tablet Y40.4
Doxycycline 50mg, 100mg Capsule, Tablet, Y40.4
Doxycycline 25mg/5ml, 50mg/5ml Suspension, Syrup Y40.4
Minocycline 50mg, 75mg, 100mg Capsule Y40.4
Oxytetracycline
250mg, 500mg, 50mg/1ml, 10mg/1gm,
30mg/1gm
Capsule, Injection, Ointment Y40.4
Tetracycline 250mg, 500mg Capsule, Tablet Y40.4
Tetracycline 125mg/5ml Suspension Y40.4





WORKING OF ANTIBIOTICS
When should you take antibiotics?
Antibiotics are prescribed for illnesses caused by bacteria, not by viruses. The
common cold and flu are caused by viruses, not by bacteria. Antibiotics do not
work against viruses. When used prudently, antibiotics are a powerful medical
tool to thwart bacterial diseases. Prudent use includes taking antibiotics only
for diagnosed bacterial infections and following the precise directions on the
prescript.
What is the proper dosage?
Prescriptions are written to cover the time needed to help your body fight all
the harmful bacteria. If you stop your antibiotic early, the bacteria that have
not yet been killed can restart an infection.

Leftover antibiotics are not a complete dose, and they will not work to kill all
your disease causing bacteria. Taking partial doses can select for the bacteria
that are resistant. Always talk to your doctor because your symptoms may not
be caused by bacteria. If you do have another bacterial infection, a complete
dose of the appropriate antibiotic is needed to kill all the harmful bacteria.

How safe are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are generally safe and should always be taken as prescribed by
your doctor; however,
Antibiotics may alter the effectiveness of other medications and cause
side effects or allergic reactions.
Antibiotics can kill most of the bacteria in your body that are sensitive
to them, including good bacteria. By destroying the bacterial balance, it
may cause stomach upsets, diarrhea, vaginal infections, or other
problems.
If you take antibiotics unnecessarily you may contribute to the
development of antibiotic resistance. If you become sick and your
bacteria are resistant to your prescribed antibiotic, your illness lasts
longer and you may have to make return office and pharmacy visits to
find the right drug to kill the germ. For more serious infections it is
possible that you would need to be hospitalized or could even die if the
infection could not be stopped. Also, while the resistant bacteria are still
alive, you act as a carrier of these germs, and you could pass them to
friends or family members.
How does a physician decide which antibiotic to prescribe?

The type of antibiotic your doctor prescribes to treat your infection depends
on the type of bacteria causing that infection. Most bacteria fall into two
types: Gram-positive and Gram-negative. These classifications are based,
basically, on the type of cell wall that the bacteria has. Gram-positive
bacteria -- such as Streptococcus -- have thin, easily permeable, single-
layered cell walls. Gram-negative bacteria -- such as E. coli -- have thicker,
less penetrable, two-layer cell walls. For an antibiotic to successfully treat a
bacterial infection, it needs to be able to penetrate either or both types of
bacterial cell walls.
What should women know before taking antibiotics?
Antibiotics often lead to a vaginal yeast infection. Because antibiotics
kill the normal bacteria in the vagina, yeast no longer have competition
for food and grow rapidly. Yeast cells begin attacking tissues in the
vagina, usually causing one or all of the following symptoms: itching,
burning, pain during sex and vaginal discharge. If you think you have a
yeast infection, consult a physician.
Antibiotics may reduce the efficacy of birth control pills.


.

SOME ANTIBIOTICS WITH THEIR FUNCTIONS



A STUDY

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

Can you imagine a day when antibiotics don't work anymore? It's concerning to think that the
antibiotics that we depend upon for everything from skin and ear infections to life-threatening
bloodstream infections could no longer work. Unfortunately, the threat of untreatable
infections is very real.
Antibiotic resistance occurs when germs outsmart drugs. In today's healthcare and community
settings, we are already seeing germs stronger than the drugs we have to treat them. This is an
extremely scary situation for patients and healthcare workers alike.
So, what is fueling antibiotic resistance, you may ask? We're finding that the widespread overuse
and incorrect prescribing practices are significant problems. In addition to driving drug resistance,
these poor practices introduce unnecessary side effects, allergic reactions, and serious diarrheal
infections caused by Clostridium difficile. These complications of antibiotic therapy can have serious
outcomes, even death.
According to CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network, a growing number of healthcare-associated
infections are caused by bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. These include: MRSA,
vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant K.
pneumonia (and K. oxytoca), E. coli and Enterobacter spp., carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa,
carbapenem-resistant K. pneumonia (and K. oxytoca), E. coli, and Enterobacter spp

HOW TO PREVENT SUCH CONDITION:-
Patients can:
Ask if tests will be done to make sure the right antibiotic is prescribed.
Take antibiotics exactly as the doctor prescribes. Do not skip doses. Complete the prescribed
course of treatment, even when you start feeling better.
Only take antibiotics prescribed for you; do not share or use leftover antibiotics. Antibiotics treat
specific types of infections. Taking the wrong medicine may delay correct treatment and allow
bacteria to multiply.
Do not save antibiotics for the next illness. Discard any leftover medication once the prescribed
course of treatment is completed.
Do not ask for antibiotics when your doctor thinks you do not need them. Remember antibiotics
have side effects.
Prevent infections by practicing good hand hygiene and getting recommended vaccines.

View Larger Graphic
Healthcare providers can:
Prescribe antibiotics correctly get cultures, start the right drug promptly at the right dose for the
right duration. Reassess the prescription within 48 hours based on tests and patient exam.
Document the dose, duration and indication for every antibiotic prescription.
Stay aware of antibiotic resistance patterns in your facility.
Participate in and lead efforts within your hospital to improve prescribing practices.
Follow hand hygiene and other infection control measures with every patient.
Healthcare Facility Administrators and Payers Can:
To protect patients and preserve the power of antibiotics, hospital CEOs/medical officers can:
Adopt an antibiotic stewardship program that includes, at a minimum, this checklist:
1. Leadership commitment: Dedicate necessary human, financial, and IT resources.
2. Accountability: Appoint a single leader responsible for program outcomes. Physicians have
proven successful in this role.
3. Drug expertise: Appoint a single pharmacist leader to support improved prescribing.
4. Action: Take at least one prescribing improvement action, such as requiring reassessment
within 48 hours to check drug choice, dose, and duration.
5. Tracking: Monitor prescribing and antibiotic resistance patterns.
6. Reporting: Regularly report to staff prescribing and resistance patterns, and steps to
improve.
7. Education: Offer education about antibiotic resistance and improving prescribing practices.
Work with other health care facilities to prevent infections, transmission, and resistance.
DRAWBACKS OF ANTIBIOTICS
1. They have side effects that can sometimes prove to be more difficult to
manage than the ailment they are meant to cure.
2. They destroy friendly bacteria along with disease-causing bacteria.
The body needs friendly bacteria for a number of processes like
detoxification, easy elimination of wastes and cleansing of the blood
and the liver.
3. Over-use of antibiotics lead to their becoming ineffective due to
bacterial mutation. Simply stated, it means that certain bacteria get
used to a particular antibiotic and start using it for their own benefit.
Penicillin and tetracycline are classic examples of how antibiotics
become redundant for killing some bacterium.
4. Children who receive broad-spectrum antibiotics during
their first year of life are at increased risk of developing
childhood asthma.
5. Broad Spectrum antibiotics may give rise to drug
resistance.
6. Antibiotics at are constant threat of vaginal infections
and may cause malfunctioning of reproductive organs.


SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTIBIOTICS- RESEARCH
WORK
New research, undertaken at Harvard University, indicates how long-term treatment
with common antibiotics can trigger harmful side effects.
Doctors often prescribe antibiotics freely, thinking that they harm bacteria while
leaving human tissue unscathed. A studied published in July 2013 suggests this is not
the case.
The research study has found that certain antibiotics, when used over a prolonged
period of time, can trigger a phenomenon called oxidative stress. This effect is a
condition in which human cells can be programmed into producing chemically
reactive oxygen molecules. For the killing of the desired microorganism this is
effective; however the damage caused to the DNA, enzymes and cell membranes of
the bacteria can also affect the bodys own cells.

As well as killing bacteria, the oxidizing process can negatively affect parts of body
cells calledmitochondria. These function to supply human cells with energy. This was
seen with three common antibiotics: ciprofloxacin, ampicillin and kanamycin.
Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance between reactive oxygen in the body and the
bodys ability to readily detoxify the by-products or to repair the resulting damage.
The concern was shown in studies on mice, where use of the three antibiotics led to
signs that the lipids (fats) in the mice became damaged as well as leading to levels of
glutathione, one of the body's natural antioxidants, to fall.
Commenting on the findings, Dr. Don Ingber, head of the institute which led the
study, is quoted by theAlternative Daily as saying: "Doctors have known for years
that antibiotics occasionally cause serious side effects and Jim's new findings offer not
one but two exciting new strategies that could address this long-neglected public
health problem."
The researchers behind the study have speculated whether an antioxidant, such as N-
acetylcysteine, could be used to reduce the impact of the antibiotic. However, this
raises concerns about people consuming a potentially harmful chemical.
The research was carried out by the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired
Engineering at Harvard University under a team led by Dr. Jim Collins.


SIDE EFFECTS:-

Antibiotics are a family of medications used to treat bacterial infections, fungal infections and some
parasites. Numerous side effects are associated with antibiotic use and extremely high doses of
antibiotics can have severe consequences.
Respiratory Side Effects
antibiotics can cause allergy-like symptoms such as wheezing and difficulty breathing. In severe
cases taking too many antibiotics can prevent a person from breathing altogether. A severe allergy to
antibiotics can lead to anaphylaxis, a condition characterized by swelling of the throat, the inability to
breathe and extremely low blood pressure..
Skin Side Effects
Side effects of an antibiotic overdose that affect the skin include skin rash, pale skin and bluish lips
and fingernails.
Intestinal Side Effects

Side effects of antibiotics that affect the intestines include an upset stomach
and diarrhea. An antibiotic overdose can also cause nausea, abdominal pain and
cramping.

Additional Side Effects

vaginal yeast infections in women as a common side effect of antibiotic therapy.
More severe side effects include damage to the kidneys, liver, bone marrow and
other organs. Severe reactions to an antibiotic overdose include fever, convulsions,
chest pain and an increased risk of collapsing.

ANTIBIOTICS DURING PREGNANCY-BAD IDEA

Recent research shows children whose mothers took
antibiotics during their pregnancy were more likely to
develop asthma, compared to those whose mother
did not take antibiotics
Children predisposed to asthma due to their mother
having the condition were twice as likely to develop
asthma if their mother used antibiotics during the third
trimester, compared to those whose mother did not
use antibiotics

This suggests that women should try to avoid
antibiotics during their pregnancy unless necessary
and prescribed by a medical practitioner.

ANTIBIOTICS MAY AFFECT SPREM QUALITY

University of Nevada researchers revealed that tetracycline a common antibiotic, may
have an effect not just on a males sperm viability, but his childrens sperm viability as
well.
Authors of the study administered the antibiotic tetracycline to a type of scorpion, and
compared their reproductive function, sperm health, sperm count, and body size to
scorpions that were not given the antibiotic. Next, the scientists observed these factors
in the small scorpions offspring.
They discovered that reproductive function and sperm health were significantly reduced
up to 15% by tetracycline for both father and son.
The findings implications may be more complex than they appear at first glance,
because tetracycline is widely used in agriculture as an additive in animal feed. This
suggests that more men may be affected by this than those prescribed the medication
to fight infection.
The researchers advise that individuals concerned about sperm quality and sexual
health may want to consider choosing organic food products and talking to their doctor
about appropriate antibiotic use, such as cutting back on tetracycline intake.