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If a virus is not fully wiped out during a regimen of antivirals, treatment creates a bottleneck in the viral population that selects for resistance, and there is a chance that a resistant strain may repopulate the host. [53] Viral treatment mechanisms must therefore account for the selection of resistant viruses.
Inappropriate antibiotic treatment, for example, is their prescription to treat viral infections such as the common cold. One study on respiratory tract infections found "physicians were more likely to prescribe antibiotics to patients who appeared to expect them". [ 108 ]
Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. Flu antiviral drugs are different from antiviral drugs used to treat other infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Antiviral drugs prescribed to treat COVID-19 are not approved or authorized to treat flu. [1]
A study conducted first in mice and then in human volunteers suggests that a common antibiotic, neomycin, ... may help protect against viral respiratory infections, such as flu and COVID-19 ...
As bacterial and viral infections can both cause the same kinds of symptoms, it can be difficult to distinguish which is the cause of a specific infection. [11] Distinguishing the two is important, since viral infections cannot be cured by antibiotics whereas bacterial infections can. [12]
Infectious diseases specialists employ a variety of antimicrobial agents to help treat infections. The type of antimicrobial depends on the organism that is causing the infection. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections; antiviral agents treat viral infections; and antifungal agents treat fungal infections. [citation needed]
Most often it is caused by viral infection and hence antibiotic therapy is not indicated in immunocompetent individuals. [10] [7] Viral bronchitis can sometimes be treated using antiviral medications depending on the virus causing the infection, and medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs and expectorants can help mitigate the symptoms.
Antibiotics have no effect against viral infections, including the common cold. [78] Due to their side effects, antibiotics cause overall harm but nevertheless are still frequently prescribed. [ 78 ] [ 79 ] Some of the reasons that antibiotics are so commonly prescribed include people's expectations for them, physicians' desire to help, and the ...