Why would an antibiotic NOT work against a virus???

Question

anonymous · Answer

@Sup??? How are viruses different from prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

jokersmart · Answer

Antibiotics don't kill viruses. Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections or diseases caused by bacteria. Antibiotics do not work against viruses. Many common respiratory tract infections (RTIs) — such as colds and flu — are caused by viruses, so antibiotics are of no use.

anonymous · Answer

ok thanks.

anonymous · Answer

perfect answer.

jokersmart · Answer

You're welcome.

anonymous · Answer

You two do realize that that does not answer the question.  You have still avoided why antibiotics are ineffective against viruses.

anonymous · Answer

its because they work against bacterial infections only and not viral ones.

anonymous · Answer

Still not an answer.  It is because the methods that the drugs use to kill bacteria cannot work with viruses, because the structures that the drugs act against do not exist in viruses.