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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffKnowing what type of germ is causing your illness makes it easier for your doctor to choose appropriate treatment.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are grouped in "families" of similar types. Bacteria are also grouped into distinct families, such as streptococcus or E. coli. Certain families of bacteria are especially susceptible to particular classes of antibiotics. So treatment can be targeted more precisely if your doctor knows what type of bacteria you're fighting.
Antibiotics are reserved for bacterial infections, because these types of drugs have no effect on illnesses caused by viruses. But sometimes it's difficult to tell which type of germ is at work. For example, some types of pneumonia are caused by viruses while others are caused by bacteria.
The overuse of antibiotics has resulted in several types of bacteria developing resistance to one or more varieties of antibiotics. This makes these bacteria much more difficult to treat.
Antivirals
Drugs have been developed to treat some, but not all, viruses. Examples include the viruses that cause:
- AIDS
- Herpes
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Influenza
Antifungals
Severe fungal infections can affect the lungs or the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat — most commonly in people who have weakened immune systems. Antifungals are the drugs of choice for these types of infections.
Anti-parasitics
Some diseases, including malaria, are caused by tiny parasites. While there are drugs to treat these diseases, some varieties of parasites have developed resistance to the drugs.
- Understanding microbes in sickness and in health. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/microbes/PDF/microbesbook.pdf. Accessed May 6, 2009.
- Facts about infectious diseases. Infectious Diseases Society of America. http://www.idsociety.org/factsaboutid.html. Accessed May 6, 2009.
- Opal SM, et al. Host responses to infection. In: Cohen J, et al. Cohen and Powderly: Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/135757989-3/0/1209/7.html?tocnode=49351280&fromURL=7.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02407-6..50004-0_85. Accessed May 6, 2009.
- Iacoviello VR, et al. Principles of anti-infective therapy. In: Cohen J, et al. Cohen and Powderly: Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/135757989-5/0/1209/535.html?tocnode=49356432&fromURL=535.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02407-6..X5001-6--section7_5237. Accessed May 6, 2009.
- Steckelberg J (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 18, 2009.
- Routes of transmission. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's: Principles and practice of infectious diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/136228628-6/838936308/1259/99.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06643-4..50015-5--cesec23_433. Accessed May 8, 2009.
- Crowcroft N, et al. Prevention. In: Cohen J, et al. Cohen and Powderly: Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/135757989-5/0/1209/9.html?tocnode=49351308&fromURL=9.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02407-6..50005-2_113. Accessed May 6, 2009.
- Johnson KS, et al. Lumbar puncture: Technique, indications, contraindications and complications in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 8, 2009.
- Chest X-ray (chest radiography). Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=chestrad. Accessed May 13, 2009.
- CT: Body. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodyct. Accessed May 13, 2009.
- MRI of the head. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=headmri. Accessed May 13, 2009.
- An ounce of prevention keeps the germs away. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention/docs/oop_brochure_eng.pdf, Accessed May 13, 2009.
