Antibacterials

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Antibacterials

Antibacterials (pronounced: an-tee-bak-TEER-ee-uhls) are a type of antimicrobial used in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infection. They may either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Etymology

The term "antibacterial" comes from the Greek words 'anti', meaning 'against', and 'bakteria', meaning 'little stick'. So, antibacterials are agents that act against little stick-like organisms, i.e., bacteria.

Types of Antibacterials

Antibacterials can be classified into two broad groups based on their biological effect on bacteria: bactericidal agents kill bacteria, and bacteriostatic agents slow down or stall bacterial growth.

Bactericidal Antibacterials

Bactericidal antibacterials, such as penicillin, work by killing the bacteria directly. They do this by interfering with the bacteria's cell wall or contents.

Bacteriostatic Antibacterials

Bacteriostatic antibacterials, such as tetracycline, do not actually kill the bacteria but instead stop them from multiplying.

Usage and Side Effects

Antibacterials are used to treat bacterial infections. The choice of antibacterial depends on the type of infection and the specific bacteria causing it. Some antibacterials can have side effects, including allergic reactions, drug interactions, and antibiotic resistance.

Related Terms

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski