Bacteriostatic agent
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Bacteriostatic antibiotics hamper the growth of bacteria by
- interfering with bacteria protein production,
- interfering with bacteria DNA production
- interfering with bacteria cellular metabolism
Bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit growth and reproduction of bacteria without killing them; killing is done by bacteriocidal agents.
Bacteriostatic agents must work with the immune system to remove the microorganisms from the body. High concentrations of most bacteriostatic agents are also bacteriocidal, whereas low concentrations of bacteriocidal agents are only bacteriostatic.
This group includes the tetracyclines, sulphonamides, spectinomycin, trimethoprim, chloramphenicol, macrolides and lincosamides.
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