bacteriostatic

(adjective)

A drug that prevents bacterial growth and reproduction but does not necessarily kill them. When it is removed from the environment the bacteria start growing again.

Related Terms

Examples of bacteriostatic in the following topics:

  • Damage to Proteins and Nucleic Acids

    • A bacteriostatic agent is a biological or chemical agent that stops bacteria from reproducing by targeting DNA replication and proteins.
    • A bacteriostatic agent or bacteriostat, abbreviated Bstatic, is a biological or chemical agent that stops bacteria from reproducing, while not necessarily harming them.
    • Upon removal of the bacteriostat, the bacteria usually start to grow again.
    • Bacteriostats are often used in plastics to prevent growth of bacteria on surfaces.
    • High concentrations of some bacteriostatic agents are also bactericidal, whereas low concentrations of some bacteriocidal agents are bacteriostatic.

  • Antibiotic Classifications

    • Bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria; bacteriostatic antibiotics slow their growth or reproduction.
    • Bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria; bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit their growth or reproduction.
    • Aminoglycosidic antibiotics are usually considered bactericidal, although they may be bacteriostatic with some organisms.
    • Bacteriostatic antibiotics limit the growth of bacteria by interfering with bacterial protein production, DNA replication, or other aspects of bacterial cellular metabolism.
    • High concentrations of some bacteriostatic agents are also bactericidal.

  • Factors that Affect Germicidal Activity of Chemicals

    • Some antiseptics are germicides, capable of destroying microbes (bacteriocidal), while others are bacteriostatic and prevent their growth.
    • Some antiseptics are true germicides, capable of destroying microbes (bacteriocidal), while others are bacteriostatic and only prevent or inhibit their growth.

  • Biological Control of Microbes

    • Those causing temporary inhibition of growth are bacteriostatic agents.

  • Prostatitis

    • ., quinolone) not bacteriostatic (e.g., tetracycline) if the infection is life-threatening.

  • Effects of Drug Combinations

    • In addition, serum levels bacteriostatic antibacterials may be reduced by alcohol consumption, resulting in reduced efficacy and diminished pharmacotherapeutic effect.

  • Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)

    • In microbiology, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the lowest concentration of an antimicrobial (like an antifungal, antibiotic or bacteriostatic) drug that will inhibit the visible growth of a microorganism after overnight incubation.

  • Antimicrobial Peptides

    • In contrast to many conventional antibiotics these peptides appear to be bacteriocidal (bacteria killing) instead of bacteriostatic (bacteria growth inhibiting).

  • Enrichment and Isolation

    • Bacterial growth can be suppressed with bacteriostats, without necessarily killing the bacteria.

  • Immunization, Antiseptics, and Antibiotics

    • Some antiseptics are true germicides, capable of destroying microbes (bacteriocidal), while others are bacteriostatic and only prevent or inhibit bacterial growth.