Antibiotics by Condition

2 antibiotics

C. diff (Clostridioides difficile) Infections

C. diff is one of the few infections where the antibiotics used to treat it are also, ironically, one of the m…

3 antibiotics

a Swollen, Infected Lymph Node

Swollen lymph nodes are usually a sign your immune system is responding to something else — antibiotics only h…

4 antibiotics

a Tooth Infection

Antibiotics can control a spreading dental infection, but they don't fix the underlying problem — that needs a…

5 antibiotics

Acne

Antibiotics are usually one part of an acne regimen, not the whole plan — and dermatology guidelines now favor…

3 antibiotics

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

BV is a bacterial imbalance, not a yeast infection or an STI — and it's treated with a specific set of antibio…

3 antibiotics

Diverticulitis

Guidance on diverticulitis has shifted — many uncomplicated cases no longer automatically get antibiotics at a…

4 antibiotics

Ear Infections

Most middle-ear infections (otitis media) are treated — if they're treated with antibiotics at all — with amox…

4 antibiotics

Eye Infections (Bacterial Conjunctivitis)

Most 'pink eye' is viral or allergic and doesn't need antibiotics — here's what's used for the bacterial cases…

4 antibiotics

H. Pylori

H. pylori is never treated with just one antibiotic — it's always a multi-drug combination, and that's by desi…

4 antibiotics

Kidney Infections (Pyelonephritis)

A kidney infection is a more serious step up from a bladder UTI and is usually treated with a stronger, longer…

4 antibiotics

Lyme Disease

Treatment differs by stage — and a single preventive dose after a tick bite is sometimes enough on its own.

5 antibiotics

MRSA & Staph Infections

MRSA isn't a different disease from a regular staph infection — it's the same bacteria with resistance that ru…

6 antibiotics

Pneumonia

Which antibiotic gets used depends heavily on which pneumonia you actually have — they're not all the same inf…

4 antibiotics

Prostatitis

Bacterial prostatitis needs a notably longer antibiotic course than a typical UTI — and not every case of pros…

4 antibiotics

Sinus Infections

Most sinus infections are viral and don't need antibiotics at all — here's what's used for the bacterial cases…

6 antibiotics

Skin Infections (Cellulitis, Boils & Abscesses)

Which antibiotic gets used (and whether antibiotics are even the main treatment) depends on whether there's pu…

3 antibiotics

STIs (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea & More)

Bacterial STIs are curable with the right antibiotic — but the CDC-recommended drug and dose is specific to ea…

4 antibiotics

Strep Throat

Strep throat needs a confirmed diagnosis (a rapid test or culture) before antibiotics — most sore throats are …

6 antibiotics

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Uncomplicated UTIs are usually treated with a short course of one of a handful of antibiotics. Here's what's t…

Do Antibiotics Treat Yeast Infections? What to Know

This one's a common mix-up: antibiotics don't treat yeast infections. In fact, taking antibiotics is one of th…