Antimicrobial agent

Antimicrobial agents are compounds that either kill microorganisms (microbicides) or inhibit their growth (bacteriostatic agents). They can be classified according to the microorganisms they target (antibiotics for bacteria, antifungals for fungi) or by their mechanism of action. The main targets of antimicrobial drugs include bacterial cell membranes, cell walls, protein synthesis machinery, nucleic acid synthesis pathways, and metabolic processes. Antimicrobial agents are used both for treatment (antimicrobial chemotherapy) and prevention (antimicrobial prophylaxis) of infections. Due to increasing antimicrobial resistance, there is ongoing research into novel targets and mechanisms to develop new effective antimicrobial therapies.

Other names

Antimicrobialsmicrobicidesbacteriostatic agents

Interference with cell wall synthesis Inhibition of protein synthesis Interference with nucleic acid synthesis Inhibition of metabolic pathways Inhibition of membrane function Inhibition of ATP synthase