TCFA Feedyard Technician Certification Practice Test

True or False: Antibiotics can both prevent and treat disease.

1. True

2. False

3. Only prevent disease

4. Only treat bacterial infections

The correct answer is: True

The statement that antibiotics can both prevent and treat disease is true. Antibiotics are primarily used to treat bacterial infections by targeting and killing the bacteria or inhibiting their growth. They are effective in treating a wide range of infections, such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin infections. In addition to their therapeutic use, antibiotics can also be employed as a preventive measure, especially in high-risk situations. For instance, antibiotics may be given to prevent infections in patients undergoing surgery or to those with compromised immune systems. This preventive use is essential in certain veterinary and agricultural practices as well, where antibiotics are administered to livestock to reduce the risk of disease outbreak. While antibiotics are crucial for managing bacterial infections and can aid in prevention, they are ineffective against viral infections, which is why their use needs to be judicious and tailored to specific scenarios to maintain their effectiveness and reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance.