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Bacterial Infections

Bacterial infections are caused by the minority of bacteria that harm the body, while most bacteria living in and on us are useful or neutral. They can affect the throat, lungs, skin or bowel, and antibiotics treat the serious ones.

Amoxil

Amoxicillin

250mg · 500mg

Amoxicillin tablets for bacterial infections and Helicobacter pylori. As a penicillin-type antibiotic, it is not suitable for anyone with a penicillin allergy.

From$0.63/ tabletView

Augmentin

Amoxicillin, Clavulanic Acid

250mg + 125mg · 500mg + 125mg · 875mg + 125mg

Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid tablets for bacterial infections. Clavulanic acid protects amoxicillin from being broken down by resistant bacteria.

From$1.51/ tabletView

Vibramycin

Doxycycline

100mg

Doxycycline capsules for bacterial infections, including chlamydia. It stops bacteria from making proteins they need to grow.

From$0.66/ capsuleView

Cipro

Ciprofloxacin

250mg · 500mg · 750mg

Ciprofloxacin tablets for bacterial infections and infectious diarrhoea. It should not be taken with dairy or calcium-fortified drinks, as they reduce absorption.

From$0.49/ tabletView

Ceftin

Cefuroxime Axetil

125mg · 250mg · 500mg

Cefuroxime axetil tablets for bacterial infections and throat infections. It is a second-generation cephalosporin, covering a broader range of bacteria.

From$2.52/ tabletView

Suprax

Cefixime

100mg · 200mg

Cefixime tablets for bacterial infections and otitis media. They kill bacteria by weakening their cell walls.

From$1.27/ tabletView

Cleocin

Clindamycin

150mg

Clindamycin tablets for bacterial and gynaecological infections. It can cause severe diarrhoea, so seek medical advice if watery stools develop.

From$1.94/ tabletView

Key points

  • Antibiotics either kill bacteria outright or stop them multiplying, so the immune system can finish the job.
  • Misusing antibiotics drives resistance, which is why they are not the answer to every infection.
  • Viruses, parasites and fungi cause infectious disease too, and antibiotics do not act on them.

Medicines listed for Bacterial Infections

The seven products listed here span several antibiotic classes. Amoxicillin appears on its own in Amoxil and combined with Clavulanic Acid in Augmentin, both as tablets. The remaining entries cover doxycycline (Vibramycin, a capsule), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), cefuroxime axetil (Ceftin), cefixime (Suprax) and clindamycin (Cleocin), all supplied as tablets.

Further reading