Antimicrobial agents

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Antimicrobial Agents

Antimicrobial agents (pronunciation: an-ti-mi-kro-bi-al ay-gents) are a type of drug used in the treatment and prevention of infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

Etymology

The term "antimicrobial" is derived from the Greek words 'anti' meaning 'against', 'mikros' meaning 'small', and 'bios' meaning 'life'. The term "agent" comes from the Latin word 'agens' meaning 'doing'. Thus, antimicrobial agents are substances that act against microorganisms.

Types of Antimicrobial Agents

There are several types of antimicrobial agents, each with a specific mode of action against a particular type of microorganism. These include:

  • Antibiotics: These are substances produced by certain microorganisms that inhibit the growth of or kill other microorganisms. They are primarily used against bacteria.
  • Antivirals: These are drugs that inhibit the replication of viruses within host cells.
  • Antifungals: These are drugs that kill or inhibit the growth of fungi.
  • Antiparasitics: These are drugs that kill parasites or inhibit their growth and reproduction.

Mechanism of Action

Antimicrobial agents work by interfering with essential processes in the microorganisms. For example, some antibiotics inhibit the synthesis of bacterial cell walls, while antivirals prevent the replication of viral DNA.

Related Terms

See Also

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