Antimicrobial Introduction
Antiseptics & Disinfectants Definitions
- Antiseptics - applied to living tissues
- Disinfectants - applied to inanimate objects
- Sterilization - complete destruction of all organisms
- Sanitization - contamination reduced to a level compatible with public health standards
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are drugs against microorganisms that treat bodily ailments, primarily based on selective toxicity; intended to attack the organism itself and not body cells.
The difference between antibiotics and antimicrobials lies in whether they are natural compounds. For example, penicillin is derived from yeast/fungus and was discovered by Alexander Fleming.
Classification of Antimicrobials
Antimicrobial agents are classified according to several criteria:
- According to antimicrobial spectrum Antimicrobial spectrum
- According to pharmacological effects; either Static (bacteriostatic) or Cidal (bactericidal)
- According to source and chemistry; Synthetic chemotherapeutic agents or antibiotics
- According to mechanism of action