What is the primary function of antibiotics in relation to bacteria?

The primary function of antibiotics is to block processes occurring in bacteria. Antibiotics are chemical substances that either kill bacteria or inhibit their growth by targeting specific biochemical pathways vital for bacterial survival and reproduction. For instance, some antibiotics interfere with the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall, disrupting the structural integrity of the bacteria and leading to cell lysis. Others inhibit protein synthesis by binding to bacterial ribosomes, preventing the production of essential proteins needed for growth.

This targeting of bacterial processes is what makes antibiotics effective as a treatment for bacterial infections, while they generally have little to no effect on viruses, which have different mechanisms of replication and survival. Understanding this function of antibiotics is critical for both medical treatment practices and the development of new antibacterial agents in the face of rising antibiotic resistance.