Why are antibiotics only effective against bacteria and not other living microorganisms such as fungi?

Same reason as why antivirals are effective only against viruses and antifungals only for fungi. They are medications developed specifically for a type of infection. As mentioned by above poster, these medications may not work for all the targeted organism, living or non-living. Some antibiotics may be broad spectrum, which can affect a wide variety of bacterial invaders, while others are more specific. There are also strains of bacteria that are very resistant to antibiotics.Why are antibiotics only effective against bacteria and not other living microorganisms such as fungi?
there are certain structures that are part of the bacteria that allow antibiotics to directly hinder the growth of only the bacteria. these specific structures go through several mutations providing us with the thousands of strains of bacteria. some of the simpler antibiotics are called beta-lactams. These bacterias have structures that surround its core, and in these rings they produce enzymes and chemicals that will block the transpeptidase structure of the bacteria. This blocking prevents growth and will either limit and stop the growth of the bacteria or when used in conjugation with other medications will the bacteria. This is only one example however viral and fungal growth is much different to bacterial growth. Fungal growth requires the use of antifungal medication that will disrupt the cell wall of the fungi and there fore destroy the fungi. This is a simplified explanation but the reason why it is incapable of being used against the two different types of organisms is because of the difference in structure, and methods of growth.Why are antibiotics only effective against bacteria and not other living microorganisms such as fungi?
antibiotics usualy 'kill' bacteria in one of 2 ways:


-by stoping the bacteria doing certain things, like making proteins, this makes it impossible for the bacteria to grow [although does not necesarily 'kill it', your body does the killing]


-by affecting the bacteria which kills it [like changing the cell-wall [yes, memberane but cell wall is more descruiptive] making it weaker and more likely to burst]





different types of bacteria are affected by different antibiotics [teh main distinction being between gram-possitive and gram-negative bacteria as they have very different 'cell walls'], so there isnt realy any 'universal' antibiotics





add in the fact that due to people being too lazy or stupid to take the whole 7 days-worth which leads to resistant strains breeding and it gets more complex





to kill fungi you need a different attack, thats why antibiotics wont touch fungi
Antibiotics are specially formed to kill or inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. Not every antibiotic will kill every bacteria... they have to be formulated specifically for it.





There are antifungals available as well.
For fungi, u use fungicides

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