What type of microorganisms do antibiotics target?

Antibiotics are specifically designed to target bacteria, which are single-celled prokaryotic organisms. Their primary mechanism of action is to interfere with the processes vital to bacterial growth and reproduction, such as cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, and DNA replication. This targeted approach allows antibiotics to effectively kill or inhibit the growth of bacterial infections.

While some antibiotics can have an impact on fungi, particularly antifungal antibiotics, their main function is not to treat fungal infections or viral infections. Viruses lack the cellular structures and processes that antibiotics target, rendering antibiotics ineffective against them. Similarly, parasites require different treatment approaches, such as antiparasitic medications, as they are more complex multicellular organisms. Hence, the focus of antibiotics is specifically on bacteria, making this answer accurate and aligned with the fundamental principles of antibiotic action.