Bacteriostat

A substance that inhibits the growth of bacteria is called a bacteriostatic (older also called bacteriostatic ) . If bacteria are killed by a substance, however, one speaks of a bactericide . However, the distinction between the two terms is not very sharp, because high concentrations of bacteriostatic agents often have a bactericidal effect and very low bactericidal concentrations can have bacteriostatic effects. The inhibition of the multiplication of pathogens is called bacteriostasis .

Some of the best-known bacteriostats are some antibiotics . They often act as translation inhibitors , for example by binding to the ribosomes and thus inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria. This group includes the tetracyclines (e.g. doxycycline ), the macrolides erythromycin , roxithromycin , clarithromycin and azithromycin and the lincosamides such as clindamycin . Other bacteriostatics inhibit DNA synthesis and thus replication , so that the bacterial cells cannot divide any further. A third group of bacteriostats inhibits factors in the metabolic pathways , so that further growth and division of the cells is also prevented. These include the sulfonamides and trimethoprim , which are rarely used today , both of which interfere with the folic acid metabolism.

In combination with the bactericidal effect of the body's immune system, bacteriostatics can effectively fight bacterial infections.

literature

• Wolfgang Stille (Ed.): Antibiotic Therapy. Clinic and practice of anti-infectious treatment. 11th, completely updated and expanded edition. Schattauer, Stuttgart et al. 2005, ISBN 3-7945-2160-9 .

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