Antibiotics, Antifungals & Antimicrobi Guides

What Antibiotics, Antifungals & Antimicrobials covers

This section covers medicines that treat infections: antibiotics for bacterial infections, antifungals for fungal ones, and antimicrobials that act on other organisms such as parasites and protozoa.

The distinction is not academic. An antibiotic does nothing against a virus, which is why colds, flu and most sore throats are not treated with one. It does nothing against a fungal infection either. Taking the wrong class does not just fail to help — it exposes you to side effects for no benefit and contributes to resistance.

Most guides here are organised by the name on your dispensing label. South African pharmacies dispense a large number of generic antibiotics under manufacturer-prefixed names — Indo Amoxicillin, Biotech Ciprofloxacin, Austell versions of common ingredients — and the prefix is the manufacturer, not a different medicine. Where a guide covers one of these, it names the underlying active ingredient so you can see what class you have.

You will also find metronidazole and its South African brand Anaerobyl here. These are worth reading before use because of a specific and well-documented interaction with alcohol.

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How the guides in this section differ

Class determines what it treats. Penicillins such as amoxicillin, macrolides such as azithromycin, quinolones such as ciprofloxacin, and nitroimidazoles such as metronidazole each cover different organisms. Your prescriber chooses based on the likely infection, your history and local resistance patterns. Two antibiotics are rarely interchangeable, even when both are “for infection”.

Antibiotic, antifungal or antiviral. Thrush, athlete’s foot and fungal nail infections need an antifungal. Cold sores and shingles need an antiviral. An antibiotic will not touch either.

Course length is part of the prescription. Some are three days, some ten, and a few are a single dose. The length is chosen to clear the infection, not to match how long you feel unwell.

Topical versus oral. Several ingredients here appear both as a cream and as tablets. A topical antifungal treats a skin infection; the oral form is a different proposition with different cautions.

This is the rough shape of the classes you will meet on a South African dispensing label:

Class	Common examples here	Typically prescribed for	Worth knowing
Penicillins	Amoxicillin, Betamox, Ultramox, Indo Amoxicillin	Chest, ear, throat, dental and skin infections	The most common antibiotic allergy; tell your prescriber
Macrolides	Azithromycin, Azrotrin	Chest and throat infections, some STIs; an option in penicillin allergy	Often short courses, sometimes three days
Quinolones	Ciprofloxacin, Biotech Ciprofloxacin	Urinary and some gut infections	Reserved rather than first-line; tendon and other cautions
Nitroimidazoles	Metronidazole, Anaerobyl	Dental, gut and gynaecological infections	Avoid alcohol during and after the course
Antifungals	Canex, Fungistop, fluconazole	Thrush, athlete’s foot, ringworm, nail infections	Topical and oral forms are not equivalent

The table describes what each class is generally used for. It is not a guide to choosing one — that decision depends on the organism, your history and local resistance patterns, and belongs to a prescriber.

Safety, accuracy and next-step checks

These guides explain what a medicine is used for. They do not diagnose an infection or tell you which antibiotic you need — that requires a professional assessment, and often a swab or culture.

The points that matter most here:

Finish the course as directed. Stopping when symptoms improve leaves the hardier organisms behind and is a direct contributor to antibiotic resistance.
Do not save leftovers or take someone else’s. A leftover course is the wrong drug, at the wrong dose, for the wrong length.
Metronidazole and alcohol. Avoid alcohol during treatment and for the period stated on the label. The reaction — flushing, nausea, vomiting, palpitations — is unpleasant and well documented.
Tell your prescriber about allergies, particularly to penicillin. Cross-reactivity between related antibiotics matters.
Antibiotics and the contraceptive pill. Vomiting or diarrhoea during a course can reduce absorption. Ask your pharmacist whether additional precautions apply.
Some antibiotics interact with common medicines, including warfarin and certain heart and stomach medicines. Give your prescriber a full list.
Diarrhoea after a course is common, but severe or persistent diarrhoea needs medical attention rather than an anti-diarrhoeal bought over the counter.

Speak to a doctor rather than self-treating if a fever is high or persistent, if symptoms worsen after two or three days on treatment, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if the medicine is for a young child.

Where these guides make a factual claim about an antimicrobial, they follow regulator-approved product information and reputable clinical references.

Frequently asked questions

Will an antibiotic help my cold or flu? No. Colds and flu are viral. Antibiotics have no effect on them, and taking one exposes you to side effects without benefit.

Why must I finish the course if I feel better? Feeling better means the most susceptible organisms have been killed. Stopping early leaves the rest, which are the ones most likely to be resistant.

Is a manufacturer-prefixed generic weaker than the brand? No. It contains the same active ingredient at the stated strength and must meet the same regulatory standards.

Can I drink alcohol while taking antibiotics? It depends on the antibiotic. With metronidazole and a few others the interaction is significant and specifically warned against. Check the label and ask your pharmacist.

What if I miss a dose? Generally take it when you remember unless it is nearly time for the next one, in which case skip it — do not double up. The label for your specific medicine takes precedence, and your pharmacist can confirm.

Antibiotics, Antifungals & Antimicrobials Used-For Guides