(e.g., Erythromycin, Azithromycin) common for skin and soft tissue infections. Sulfonamides: Often used for urinary tract infections.
The bacteria remain alive but cannot multiply, effectively "freezing" the infection in place. 2. Common Bacteriostatic Agents bacteriostat
Most bacteriostatic antibiotics work by binding to bacterial ribosomes (like the 30S or 50S subunits), which prevents the cell from creating the proteins it needs to grow. bacteriostat
Used for severe infections like meningitis. Lincosamides: (e.g., Clindamycin). 3. Practical Application: Bacteriostatic Water Bacteriostatic Water Guide | Composition, Storage & Use bacteriostat
Some agents block essential metabolic pathways, such as DNA replication or folic acid synthesis.
In clinical medicine, several classes of antibiotics are classified as primarily bacteriostatic: