antimicrobials
Infection-fighting substances
Antimicrobials are substances that kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.
The term covers antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and disinfectants.
Antimicrobial soaps, antimicrobial coatings, antimicrobial resistance.
The adjective antimicrobial describes anything with these properties: antimicrobial properties, antimicrobial treatment.
Antibiotic-immune bacteria
- multidrug-resistantUnaffected by multiple treatments
- biofilmAdhesive layer of microorganisms
- plasmidsCircular extrachromosomal DNA elements
- cross-resistanceTolerance extending across related agents
MRSA · overprescription · misuse · mutation · persistence · tolerance
Bacteria-destroying medicines
- antifungalsMedications targeting mycotic infections
- antiviralsMedicines that inhibit viruses
- antiparasiticsAgents destroying harmful organisms
- penicillinFungus-derived infection fighter
cephalosporins · tetracyclines · sulfonamides · azithromycin · ciprofloxacin · vancomycin · metronidazole · doxycycline
Curative mental treatment
- prescriptionMedical dispensing authorization
- dosageMeasured medicine amount
- regimenPrescribed course of treatment
- prophylaxisPreventive medical treatment
monotherapy · oral · intravenous · topical · broad-spectrum · narrow-spectrum · bactericidal · bacteriostatic
Agent destroying surface pathogens
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- sanitizerAgent that reduces microbes
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- bleachChemical stain and germ killer
alcohol · iodine · chlorine · decontamination · fumigation · autoclaving · hospital-grade · germicide
Agent preventing spoilage
- coatingApplied surface covering
- food-preservationPreventing edible spoilage
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- biodefenseProtection from biological attacks
superbugs
Antibiotic-immune bacteria
- multidrug-resistantUnaffected by multiple treatments
- biofilmAdhesive layer of microorganisms
- plasmidsCircular extrachromosomal DNA elements
cross-resistance · MRSA · overprescription · misuse · mutation · persistence · tolerance
antibiotics
Bacteria-destroying medicines
- antifungalsMedications targeting mycotic infections
- antiviralsMedicines that inhibit viruses
- antiparasiticsAgents destroying harmful organisms
penicillin · cephalosporins · tetracyclines · sulfonamides · azithromycin · ciprofloxacin · vancomycin · metronidazole · doxycycline · amoxicillin
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- prescriptionMedical dispensing authorization
- dosageMeasured medicine amount
- regimenPrescribed course of treatment
prophylaxis · monotherapy · oral · intravenous · topical · broad-spectrum · narrow-spectrum · bactericidal · bacteriostatic · eradication
disinfectant
Agent destroying surface pathogens
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- sanitizerAgent that reduces microbes
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
bleach · alcohol · iodine · chlorine · decontamination · fumigation · autoclaving · hospital-grade · germicide
preservative
Agent preventing spoilage
- coatingApplied surface covering
- food-preservationPreventing edible spoilage
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- Antimicrobialsantibiotic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, penicillin
- preservativessodium nitrate, potassium sorbate, citric acid, lactic acid, ascorbic acid
- broad-spectrum thingsantibiotics, sunscreen, SPF, UV protection, herbicides
- Food Microbiologybacterial growth, spoilage, pathogens, pathogen, Salmonella
- amphibian toxinstoad venom
- immunityimmune, immunity, immune system, immune response, immune cells
antimicrobialsnutrients
Vital dietary substances
vitamins · tonics · supplements · fertilizers · growth factors