how quick can antibiotics work?

They certainly seem to! I started my course of antibiotics yesterday for my chest infection and by last night, my wheezing and coughing seemed to ease a lot!

I've had antibiotics work really quickly. Not a chest infection, but a few years ago I had a nasty urinary tract infection, and the right antibiotics had a noticable effect within a few hours of taking the first dose.

Yep, I've had antibiotics for a UTI that made me start to feel better after a few hours too.

Keep taking them though, even if you do feel better.

I've had them work within half an hour - these are quite hardcore ones though (ciprofloxacin)

Yes they can. In fact, if they don't work quickly (within a day or so) it may be because (a) you didn't need ABs in the first place eg because it's a virus or (b) it's never oging to work ie you need an antibiotic but that's not the right one.

I've seen particularly impressive results in people with puerperal mastitis and in my own case a dental abscess (took Augmentin at 2pm, pain significantly better by 4pm).

Thank you, I did initially think that it was viral as the first lot of antibiotics did not seem to do anything, but now seeing how much better I feel with this second lot, now I can see that I needed the stronger ones! (although the side effects are grim and I cannot be too far from the toilet! but can cope with that as i feel I can breathe!)

Good to hear that the antibiotics are working for you Muffin...

... I can sympathise with you on the side-effects! ☹️