Question

Why are antibiotics are only effective against bacteria but not against viruses

Answer 1

Unfortunately, they are less effective against viruses than they are against bacteria. Antibiotic drugs kill bacteria by disrupting their cell walls. But virus' external covering, known as the viral envelope, is almost identical to the host cell's membranes, making them difficult to target.

Answer 2

⇒ Antibiotics are commonly use to block biochemical pathways which is important for bacteria.

⇒ Many Bacteria make cell wall to protect themselves.

⇒ The antibiotic penicillin blocks the bacterial processes that build the cell wall.

⇒ As a result, The growing bacteria are unable to make cell wall and die easily.

⇒ But viruses do not use this path ways therefore antibiotic do not work against viral infection.