The word "antibiotic" comes from the Greek words anti - «against» and bios - «life» (bacteria - one of the forms of life). Antibiotics - a drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria. The first antibiotic was penicillin. From the group of penicillin antibiotics, such as ampicillin, amoxicillin, and others are widely used today to treat various infections. There are other types of antibiotics, which in developed countries are sold exclusively by prescription.

The history of antibiotics

Of course, the history of antibiotics did not begin in the 20th century. Already in ancient times, different peoples in all parts of the world used for the treatment of various diseases of plants, many of which have antibiotic properties. Moreover, in some regions, the disease was treated with mold - though, of course, the mechanism of its action remains unclear. Since the 17th century, you can trace the history of antibiotics, based on historical documents.

1640 - John Parkington in his book on pharmacology recommended the use of the mold as a medicine.

1870 - Sir John Scott Burdon-Sanderson noted that the preparations covered by mold, bacteria do not multiply.

1871 - Joseph Lister experimented with the antibacterial effect on the fabric of the human body that he called Penicillium glaucium.

1875 - John Tyndall spoke before the Royal Society, told about the antibacterial action of the fungus Penicillium.

1877 - Louis Pasteur found that bacteria can kill other bacteria (in this particular case - anthrax).

1897 - Ernest Duchesne treats guinea pigs from typhus, using fungal organisms (Penicillium glaucium).

1928 - Sir Alexander Fleming isolated from the fungus Penicillium notatum enzyme lysozyme and the antibiotic substance penicillin.

1932 Germany Gerhard Domagk discovered Sulfonamidochrysoidine (Prontosil).

During the 1940s and '50s were ootkryty streptomycin, chloramphenicol and tetracycline Tetracycline - a natural broad-spectrum antibiotic . The term "antibiotics" for a description of these preparations was used vpevye 1942.

Types of antibiotics

• Aminoglycosides. This group includes streptomycin (used against tuberculosis) and gentamicin, an antibiotic effective remedy for urinary tract infections and serious intestinal diseases. These antibiotics are not recommended in patients with renal insufficiency Kidney failure - when treatment is vital   and pregnancy.
• Betalaktaminy containing penicillin, antibiotics are frequently used. Indications for their use are extensive: infectious diseases of the heart, skin, bronchus, lung, genitourinary system, ears, nose and throat; they take in syphilis, meningitis Meningitis - an inflammation of the meninges   and many other disorders.
• This class is a powerful antibiotic imipenem, which is given to patients in hospitals who do not help other antibiotics.
• Beta-lactams. This group of antibiotics are first-generation cephalosporins, cefaclor and cefazolin.
• Lincosamides, including clindamycin, used in serious violations. Cause side effects associated with the work of the liver; contraindicated in hepatic insufficiency.
• Macrolides are used mainly in the case of infections of the urinary tract, ear, nose and throat, and lungs.
• Nitroimidazoles, including metronidazole, indicated for secondary infections caused by anaerobic bacteria.
• Sulfonamides are used for the treatment of certain urinary tract infections as well as in cases where other antibiotics are ineffective.
• Tetracyclines - a group of antibiotics that includes doxycycline Doxycycline - penetrates into the tissue cells , Minocycline, tetracycline, and others. With their help cure many diseases, including genital infections, cholera, typhoid fever, diseases of the lungs.

Once in the human body were the TB bacteria, there are two main scenarios: the bacteria can begin to actively proliferate in the lungs or, rarely, in other organs and lead to different symptoms, or they live in the body for years or decades, without causing a man of no concern. In the first scenario develops open, and the second - a closed form of tuberculosis.

Any symptoms of TB are no closed, and only its sign is positive Mantoux test or a blood test for TB.

It is believed that TB bacteria infected by at least one third of the world population, but only 5-10% of them develop active, or open tuberculosis. The other mycobacteria infected throughout life may remain inactive and not to cause any harm.

The main characteristics of the patients with the closed form of tuberculosis:

• Tuberculin skin test in infected patients, in most cases a positive result;
• Patients do not feel the sickness;
• Radiography not show any changes in the lungs;
• Analysis of sputum is negative;
• TB bacteria live in the human body, but remain inactive.

How is a closed tuberculosis?

Closed tuberculosis, as well as an open, infected by airborne droplets. Infectious agents are contained in the saliva of patients with open tuberculosis. When they cough, sneeze, talk or even drops of saliva released into the air, and if a healthy person breathes in, along with the saliva in his body fall mycobacteria.

It should be noted that when dealing with patients with the infection does not always happen; the most vulnerable to infection in immunocompromised people and small children. However, most infected develops indoor tuberculosis, and a substantial portion of patients it never flows into the open mold.

Contagious tuberculosis closed mold?

No patient with a closed tuberculosis can not infect others. If indoor tuberculosis was contagious, on the planet, probably for a long time there would be someone who is not infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, we must bear in mind that some patients develop tuberculosis locked in the open, and at first at the same time may not be any symptoms, although people have is contagious.

Unfortunately, to identify and begin to treat open tuberculosis in the early stages of development and thus protect against infection of healthy people is not always possible.

Treatment of closed tuberculosis

Treatment with the closed form of tuberculosis, would greatly reduce the risk of developing active tuberculosis. However, in people with a strong immune system, the risk of disease, even without active TB treatment is low, and a special therapy is prescribed only to patients at risk. At increased risk of developing open-TB include:

• HIV-infected patients;
• People suffering from malnutrition;
• People who abuse alcohol, especially those who developed alcohol dependence Alcohol addiction - for no reason, no reason not arise ;
• Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes;
• Patients with silicosis Silicosis - a serious occupational disease ;
• Patients with renal failure Kidney failure - when treatment is vital   or malignant tumors;
• People who take drugs that suppress the immune system, such as glucocorticoids.

Treatment of closed tuberculosis often appointed to HIV-infected patients and the people who take inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) - drugs that significantly increase the risk of opportunistic infections.

TNF inhibitors were first used more than a decade ago and took their patients indoor tuberculosis Tuberculosis - a full recovery is not guaranteed   It developed in an open form more often than it does on average. However, the most serious risk for patients with closed TB is HIV: it increases the likelihood of tuberculosis activation tenfold. In addition, HIV-infected patients were significantly more likely than other patients develop extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Timely preventive treatment of tuberculosis allows closed to avoid its activation and prevent many complications that can cause open tuberculosis in patients with weakened immune defenses. In some cases, treatment may be administered to patients and the other groups at risk.

For the treatment of tuberculosis is usually closed using isoniazid and / or rifampicin. Depending on the specifics of each case is assigned to one of the following regimens:

• The nine-month course of treatment: isoniazid daily, the minimum total number of doses - 270;
• The six-month course of treatment: isoniazid daily, the minimum number of units - 180;
• The three-month course of treatment: isoniazid and rifampicin once a week, the minimum number of doses - 12;
• Four-month course of treatment: rifampicin daily, the minimum number of units - 120.

Side effects of these drugs may have nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches and loss of appetite - they usually are mild and pass quickly. However, if the side effects are amplified and / or after the medication you show symptoms such as skin rash, itching, jaundice, extreme weakness, tingling or numbness in the extremities, dizziness, be sure to talk about this with your doctor.