Antibiotics are medications that combat bacterial infections. In the context of chicken respiratory diseases, they are used to treat infections that may arise as complications from viral infections. While antibiotics do not cure viral infections, they help control secondary bacterial infections that can exacerbate the health issues in affected birds. For example, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a bacterium that commonly affects the respiratory system of chickens, can result in significant respiratory illness. Infected flocks often require antibiotic treatment to control the outbreak and mitigate the impact on overall flock health and productivity.
