Final answer:
Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses because they target the unique features of bacteria and viruses lack these features. Unlike bacteria, viruses are not living organisms and require a host cell to replicate. Antiviral treatments and vaccines are the best option for combating viral infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is NOT true about viruses and why antibiotics do not work against them is: Antibiotics are used by patients with colds or the flu, the treatment for which antibiotics are useless. Antibiotics, which target bacterial infections, are ineffective against viruses because viruses have a different structure and replicate inside host cells. Unlike bacteria, viruses are not living organisms; they are essentially genetic material (DNA or RNA) encased in a protein coat. They hijack the host cell's machinery for their own replication. Antiviral drugs, on the other hand, are designed to disrupt viral replication or entry into cells. Vaccines provide the best defense by stimulating the immune system to fight off future viral infections.
While bacteria can be targeted by antibiotics at various points in their life cycle, including their unique cell wall, protein synthesis, and nucleic acid synthesis, viruses are only 'active' and replicable within a host cell, making them harder to target. It's also important to note that using antibiotics for viral infections can lead to antibiotic resistance, which is a significant global health concern.
In treatment of viral diseases like influenza and the common cold, supportive care is often the best approach, as there are no effective antiviral treatments for the common cold and only a limited number of antiviral drugs for other viral infections.