Antibiotics work against viruses?

The post title will annoy scientists and physicians, but will simply confirm what lay people believe to be true. It’s why the public tends to demand antibiotics for viral infections.  And that’s why health organizations like the CDC should abandon the term in favor of clarity.
If you search Google for the “definition of antibiotic,” the majority of definitions on the first page will return the lay definition, that antibiotics are effective against microorganisms.  Google provides the first definition like that, in fact, which is probably the result 99% of the searchers use. If you want to read good overview of how dictionaries and world health groups define “antibiotic,” please see this document (pdf) by the European Union’s Heads of Medicines Agencies. The public is confused about antibiotic action because everyone, including medical organizations, is confused.

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Antibiotics work against viruses - Colin Purrington

Source: Coling Purrington
Image credits: Unknown


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