Antibiotics are a class of medicine used to counteract microorganisms. Antibacterial activity refers to the act of prevention from bacteria. Antibiotics are divided into two types based on their mode of action: Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic.
Both have the same function: to destroy bacteria and counteract bacterial activity. Both of them differ in the mode of action and the conditions in which they are prescribed.
Key Takeaways
- “Bactericidal” refers to a substance or agent capable of killing bacteria. In contrast, “Bacteriostatic” refers to a substance or agent capable of inhibiting the growth and reproduction of bacteria.
- Bactericidal agents have a faster and more immediate effect on bacteria, while bacteriostatic agents have a slower and more gradual effect.
- Bactericidal agents are used in the treatment of severe bacterial infections. In contrast, bacteriostatic agents prevent the growth and spread of bacteria in various settings, such as in food preservation or medical equipment cleaning.
Bactericidal vs Bacteriostatic
Bactericidal antibiotics act by inhibiting the cell wall synthesis in microorganisms, while bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit protein synthesis, thereby disturbing the DNA replication and metabolism of microorganisms. Bactericidal antibiotics kill the bacteria, while bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria, thereby inactivating them.
Bactericidal means the process involving the killing of bacteria. This process is irreversible as the bacteria, once killed, cannot be retrieved. The bactericidal antibiotics act primarily by inhibiting cell wall synthesis.
This leads to leaching out of the cell contents of bacteria, and the bacteria die off.
Bacteriostatic means the process of inhibition of the growth of bacteria. It does not kill the bacteria as in the case of bactericidal.
This is reversible because the bacteria quickly resume their normal function and growth after the drug stops its activity. Bacteriostatic antibiotics have fewer side effects and are prescribed by physicians.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Bactericidal | Bacteriostatic |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Refers to the killing of bacteria | Refers to inhibiting the growth and reproduction of bacteria. |
| Process | Irreversible process. | Reversible process. |
| Mode of action | It inhibits the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall. | Inhibits protein synthesis and DNA replication of bacteria. |
| Antibiotics usage | Endocarditis, meningitis, neutropenia, osteomyelitis | Wound infection, urinary tract infection |
| Examples | ß-lactam antibiotics, ofloxacin, penicillin, aminoglycosides, vancomycin, and cephalosporins. | Chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, sulfonamides, erythromycin, trimethoprim, spectinomycin, lincosamide, macrolides, etc. |
What is Bactericidal?
Bactericidal is the specification of a drug category that prevents the body from bacteria by killing them. The mode of action of bactericidal antibiotics is: They inhibit the synthesis of the bacteria’s cell wall.
The improper formation of the cell wall or the damaged cell wall leads to the leaching out of bacterial contents.
This ultimately leads to the death of the bacteria, and thus the amount of bacteria decreases eventually in the body. This is an irreversible process as the bacteria is killed and cannot be reversed.
This kind of antibiotic does not work per the host’s immune system. Some bactericidal antibiotics are also said to inhibit protein synthesis and bacterial lipids and enzymes.
Some of the drugs opt for more than one mode of action. When used in rapidly dividing bacteria, bactericidal antibiotics show the most activity.
One of the ß-lactam antibiotics, penicillin, attaches to penicillin-binding proteins, inhibiting the cross-linking of bacteria’s cell walls.
The antibiotic concentration required to kill 99.99% of the bacteria is known as minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC).
Bactericidal can be referred to as any substance that kills bacteria. Examples include disinfectants, antibiotics, and antiseptics.
These activities are used in hospitals and other healthcare facilities to completely kill the bacteria on the surface of the things to produce an aseptic environment.
This is mainly done in operation theatres and intensive care units. Common chemicals used in case of disinfecting are alcohol.
What is Bacteriostatic?
Bacteriostatic is the specific category of antibiotics that inactivates the bacteria by limiting its growth and multiplication of cells, i.e., reproduction. The mode of action of bacteriostatic antibiotics:
They inhibit the protein synthesis, DNA replication, and other metabolic activities of bacteria. This is a reversible process.
When the drug is removed from the body or its pharmacological action wears off, the bacteria resume their growth and normalize their activity.
This antibiotic gets activated by the host’s immune system to prevent bacterial growth and reproduction. When given high doses, Bacteriostatic kills the bacteria and starts acting as a bactericidal.
The minimum concentration of a drug that inhibits a considerable amount of bacterial growth to show the suppressing activity of bacteria is known as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).
Bacteriostatic treatments freeze bacterial activity and stop them from multiplying and showing their action. This process is used in the pasteurization of milk.
The bacteriostatic activity aims to stall the cellular activities of bacteria rather than kill them. They are of a broad mechanism of action.
Main Differences Between Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic
- Bactericidal are antibiotics that kill bacteria, while bacteriostatic antibiotics prevent bacterial growth.
- Bactericidal antibiotics inhibit bacterial cell wall formation, while bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit bacteria’s protein synthesis and DNA replication.
- The mode of action of bactericidal is irreversible, while that of bacteriostatic is reversible.
- Bactericidal antibiotics work on bacteria by killing them, while bacteriostatic antibiotics tend to inhibit bacterial growth by preventing the synthesis of protein.
- Bactericidal antibiotics are used in treating meningitis or endocarditis, while bacteriostatic antibiotics are used to treat wound infections or urinary tract infections.
- Bactericidal drugs can show side effects such as toxic shock syndrome in humans, whereas bacteriostatic antibiotics rarely show side effects.
- https://aac.asm.org/content/58/8/4573.short
- https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/38/6/864/320723?login=true
- https://academic.oup.com/jac/article/70/2/382/2911103?login=true
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The article did an excellent job of outlining the differences between bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics, making it easy to comprehend and apply in a real-life context.
I found the comparison table to be particularly helpful in understanding the contrasting characteristics of these antibiotics.
Agreed, the detailed explanation of the mode of action of both types of antibiotics was very informative.
The article offers a thorough and detailed examination of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics, providing a well-rounded understanding of their roles in combating bacteria.
The article’s emphasis on the differences in the processes of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics was enlightening and easy to grasp.
I appreciate the objective comparison of the usage and modes of action of both types of antibiotics.
The article’s explanation of how bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics work and their impact on bacterial growth was highly informative and insightful.
I agree, the detailed explanation of the mode of action of both types of antibiotics was eye-opening.
The article effectively highlights the differences between bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics, providing a valuable resource for understanding their mechanisms and applications.
The information on the practical applications of both types of antibiotics in various settings was particularly intriguing.
I found the article’s comparison of the examples of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics to be very thought-provoking.
The article provides a comprehensive overview of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics, shedding light on their usage and impact on bacteria.
The detailed description of how bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics function in different scenarios was particularly enlightening.
I appreciated the comparison of real-world examples of both types of antibiotics, it made the information more relatable.
The article’s breakdown of the parameters of comparison between bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics was incredibly beneficial in understanding their contrasting effects.
The article presents a detailed and well-structured analysis of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics, offering valuable insights into their distinct functionalities.
The article’s comparison of the meaningful examples and practical applications of both types of antibiotics provided a comprehensive understanding of their mechanisms.
This article provides an excellent comparison between bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics, giving a clear understanding of their modes of action and applications.
I completely agree, I appreciate the detailed explanation of the key takeaways.
It’s impressive how the article delves into the specific examples and processes of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics.
The article delivers a profound and illuminating discussion of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics, providing a comprehensive overview of their applications and impacts.
I found the article’s detailed explanation of the mode of action and real-world examples of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics to be genuinely engaging.
Thanks for the insight into the workings of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics, it’s always beneficial to gain a deeper understanding of these important medicinal agents.