Which type of infection is best treated with antimicrobial treatments?

Bacterial infections are best treated with antimicrobial treatments due to the nature of how these medications work. Antimicrobials, which include antibiotics, are specifically designed to target and kill bacteria or inhibit their growth. This makes them effective for conditions caused by bacterial pathogens, such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, and bacterial pneumonia, among others.

Antimicrobials work by exploiting differences between human cells and bacterial cells. For example, they might target bacterial cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, or DNA replication, processes that do not occur in human cells. Therefore, while they are essential for treating bacterial infections, they do not affect viral infections, which require antiviral drugs, or fungal infections, which may need antifungal treatments. Parasitic infections often require antiparasitic medications, as the parasites possess characteristics fundamentally different from bacteria. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in selecting the right treatment for each type of infection.