Question

What are ‘broad spectrum antibiotics’? [Textbook Question 8a pg no. 95]

Answer 1

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used when a bacterial infection is suspected but the group of bacteria is unknown.

• These antibiotics are active against a wider number of bacterial types and therefore, they are used to treat a variety of infectious diseases.
• Powerful broad-spectrum antibiotics possess specific risk.
• Example of a broad-spectrum antibiotic is ampicillin, amoxicillin and chloramphenicol.
• Narrow spectrum antibiotics and broad-spectrum antibiotics, both types work to treat infections but using broad-spectrum antibiotics when not needed can create antibiotic-resistant that are not easy to treat.
• They often cause side effects such as rashes or diarrhoea.