What is the primary purpose of prescribing antibiotics?

The primary purpose of prescribing antibiotics is to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics are specifically designed to target bacteria, either by killing them or inhibiting their growth. This makes them effective in managing a variety of bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin infections, among others.

Unlike viral infections, which require different treatment approaches, antibiotics are not effective against viruses. This fact highlights the necessity of accurately diagnosing the infection type before prescribing antibiotics. While antibiotics can help eliminate bacterial pathogens, they do not provide any benefit for conditions like chronic pain management or allergic reactions, which involve entirely different physiological mechanisms. Thus, the effectiveness of antibiotics is specifically tied to their role in treating infections caused by bacteria, reinforcing the importance of appropriate and judicious use of these medications in clinical practice.