Antibiotics are chemicals which kill bacteria, that is they are
Narrow spectrum antibiotics affect only a few bacterial types. Broad spectrum antibiotics affect a wider range of bacteria.
In Section 1 you learned about the different phases of bacterial growth. Most antibiotics target the exponential phase of growth. Can you suggest a reason for this?
The exponential phase is when bacterial cells are at their most active, continually growing, dividing and forming new cells. The various metabolic processes which underpin this period of growth – such as the synthesis of DNA/RNA, proteins and the cell wall – are good opportunities for antibiotics to disrupt and/or kill cells.
You will learn how antibiotics work in Week 2.