Which statement best reflects the relationship between antibiotics and infections?

• A. They target viruses
• B. They are effective against bacterial infections
• C. They prevent all diseases
• D. They neutralize toxins

Answer: (B)

Antibiotics are drugs that treat bacterial infections by either killing bacteria or stopping their growth. This makes them the right choice for infections caused by bacteria, such as certain types of pneumonia or strep throat. They don’t work against viruses, so viral illnesses like the common cold or flu aren’t treated with antibiotics. They also don’t prevent all diseases—prevention relies on vaccines, hygiene, and other public health measures, not antibiotics. And they don’t directly neutralize toxins produced by bacteria, though stopping bacterial growth can reduce toxin production indirectly. In short, antibiotics are effective for bacterial infections, not viral ones, not general disease prevention, and not toxin neutralization.