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Bactericidal

Bactericidal (from bacteria and Latin caedere = "to kill") refers to the property of a substance to kill bacteria. Such a substance is also known as a bactericidal agent. This contrasts with bacteriostatic agents, which merely inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria but do not kill them directly.

Examples and mechanisms of action

• Bactericidal antibiotics:
  • Beta-lactam antibiotics (e.g. penicillins, cephalosporins) attack the bacterial cell wall, leading to the death of the bacteria.
  • Fluoroquinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin) inhibit important enzymes of bacterial DNA replication, which ultimately leads to cell death.
• Disinfectants: Many disinfectants (e.g. chlorine, ethanol, hydrogen peroxide) have a bactericidal effect in appropriate concentrations by destroying the cell membrane or proteins of the bacteria.

Significance in medicine

• Rapid germ reduction: Bactericidal agents can be particularly important in severe, acute infections (e.g. bacterial meningitis).
• Critical sites of infection: Bactericidal agents are often recommended in places such as the heart valves or the brain, where the immune response is particularly sensitive.

Difference to bacteriostatic agent

• Bacteriostatic agents (e.g. tetracyclines, macrolides) prevent the growth and multiplication of bacteria so that the body's immune system can eliminate the pathogens more easily.
• Bactericidal agents can kill the bacteria directly.

In practice, the distinction between bactericidal and bacteriostatic plays a role in the choice of the appropriate antibiotic. Factors such as the severity of the disease, the location of the infection and the state of the immune system influence this decision.