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Why Don’t Antibiotics Kill Viruses?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on June 2, 2025.

Key Points

Overuse and inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics worldwide is leading to the global healthcare issue of antibiotic resistance. You may be told you cannot use an antibiotic for a viral infection because they are ineffective and may lead to “antibiotic resistance”.

But why don’t antibiotics kill viral infections, and how can overuse of an antibiotic lead to “antibiotic resistance”? Some reasons are that:

List of common illnesses caused by viruses

Most viral illnesses do not need special medication and are “self-limiting”. This means that usually your own immune system will kick in and fight off the illness, but this can take time. A cough and cold can last from 7 to 10 days and the flu, RSV or COVID might keep you down for 1 to 2 weeks or more.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, be sure to contact your doctor for further advice. Antiviral medications are now available for some high-risk groups with COVID-19, and vaccinations or boosters may be recommended.

If you come down with a viral illness, you should rest, drink plenty of fluids and treat symptoms such as fever or aches and pains. Treatment options include proper doses of pain and fever relievers like over-the-counter (OTC) acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or as directed by your doctor.

If you are diagnosed with a viral illness such as a cough, cold or sore throat, and your symptoms worsen or do not clear up within 10 days, be sure to contact your doctor.

How are viruses different from bacteria?

Viruses are structurally different from bacteria. Viruses live and replicate inside of a human cell and they cannot live outside of this environment. Viruses insert their genetic material into a human cell’s DNA in order to reproduce.

Antibiotics cannot kill viruses because bacteria and viruses have different mechanisms and machinery to survive and replicate. The antibiotic has no “target” to attack in a virus.

Antiviral medications and vaccines are specific for viruses. Vaccines stimulate your own immune system to produce antibodies, which then can “recognize” the virus to inactivate it before it can cause disease. The best way to help prevent the flu, COVID, shingles and chickenpox is with a vaccine.

Can I treat a cold with an antibiotic?

Using an antibiotic for a virus, like a cold or the flu:

Many bacterial infections do require an antibiotic; however, the type of antibiotic will vary based on the type of infection and bacteria. An antibiotic either prevents bacterial growth (bacteriostatic) or kills bacteria outright (bactericidal).

It is very important not to share your antibiotics with someone else. For example, amoxicillin (a penicillin-type drug) can be used to treat a bacterial strep throat but will not work for some common pneumonias or bladder infections.

While you may mean well if you share your medicine with other people, the bacteria causing someone else's infection may not be susceptible to your prescribed antibiotic. In turn, those bacteria may not die and that person's infection can worsen. They may still be contagious to those around them, as well.

Plus, the person you share your antibiotic with may experience serious side effects or allergic reactions from your drug. Common antibiotic side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, vaginal yeast infections, and more. Overall, sharing any medicine with someone else is risky.

List of common illnesses caused by bacteria

Learn more: What are the strongest antibiotics available?

How does antibiotic resistance occur?

According to the CDC's latest statistics, at least 2.8 million people in the U.S. each year become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 35,000 people die as a direct result of these infections.

In general terms, antibiotic resistance can occur when bacteria learn to “fight off” the antibiotic.

Do I need to finish my antibiotic?

The bottom line: take your antibiotic for as long as your doctor tells you to take it.

Historically you may have been told to always finish all of your prescribed antibiotic, even if you feel 100% better. The thinking was that antibiotic resistance could occur if you stop short of your full course of therapy.

But some experts have suggested that long courses are not always needed and could actually be fueling the antibiotic resistance trend. The American College of Physicians (ACP) published a guideline in 2021 entitled "ACP Best Practice Advice: Shorter course of antibiotics may be appropriate for some common infections".

Because there is no overall guiding principle, take your antibiotic for as long as your doctor tells you. Sometimes treatment length may need to be extended if the infection does not clear, if you have a compromised immune system, you are pregnant, or you recently had treatment for a bacterial infection.

How can vaccines help?

Many infections can be prevented by following the recommended vaccine schedule as proposed by the CDC, so be sure to keep up-to-date with your vaccines and those of your children. Your doctor and pharmacist can provide more information about important vaccines and timing for you and your family.

Related: What are vaccines, and how do they work?

See also

Sources

  • US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Antibiotic Prescribing and Use. Accessed May 28, 2025 at https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/
  • Up to Date. Patient education: What you should know about antibiotics (The Basics). Accessed March 15, 2024 at https://www.uptodate.com
  • Antibiotics, Explained. NPS MedicineWise. Accessed March 15, 2024 at https://www.nps.org.au/consumers/antibiotics-explained
  • Lee RA, Centor RM, Humphrey LL, et al; Scientific Medical Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians, Akl EA, Bledsoe TA, Forciea MA, et al. Appropriate Use of Short-Course Antibiotics in Common Infections: Best Practice Advice From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2021 Jun;174(6):822-827. doi: 10.7326/M20-7355
  • Lee RA, Stripling JT, Spellberg B, Centor RM. Short-course antibiotics for common infections: what do we know and where do we go from here? Clin Microbiol Infect. 2023 Feb;29(2):150-159. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.08.024. Epub 2022 Sep 6. PMID: 36075498.
  • Carl Llor, Malene Plejdrup Hansen, Jesper Lykkegaard, et al. HAPPY PATIENT Study Group , on behalf of, Duration of antibiotic treatment for respiratory tract infections in primary care, JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance, Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2025, dlaf028, https://doi.org/10.1093/jacamr/dlaf028

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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