What is the therapeutic purpose of antibiotics?

The therapeutic purpose of antibiotics is focused on the treatment of bacterial infections by inhibiting the growth of bacteria or killing them outright. Antibiotics work by targeting specific features of bacterial cells, such as their cell wall or protein synthesis machinery, which are absent in human cells. This selective action allows antibiotics to effectively eliminate or control bacterial populations while minimizing harm to human cells.

In contrast, approaches aimed at reducing inflammation, such as steroids, are distinct from the function of antibiotics. Moreover, antibiotics are not effective against viral infections, which require different types of antiviral medications to treat. Additionally, while pain relief can be achieved through analgesics, this is unrelated to the mechanisms by which antibiotics operate. Therefore, the primary function of antibiotics is indeed to address bacterial infections specifically, making the correct answer accurate in its description.