Definition

Noun: A substance used as a medicine to kill bacteria or to stop their growth. This type of drug is specifically designed to treat infections caused by bacteria.

Usage

An "antibacterial drug" is administered to eliminate bacterial pathogens or to prevent their multiplication within the body. It is a technical term commonly used in medical, pharmaceutical, and scientific contexts.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Penicillin was the first widely used antibacterial drug.
  • The doctor prescribed a powerful antibacterial drug for the infection.
  • Researchers are developing a new class of antibacterial drugs to combat resistance.

Advanced Usage

• "Broad-spectrum antibacterial drug": A drug effective against a wide range of bacterial species.
  • The patient was started on a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug while awaiting lab results.
• The term is often used interchangeably with "antibiotic" in general contexts, though "antibiotic" can sometimes refer more broadly to substances produced by microorganisms that inhibit other microorganisms.

Variants and Related Words

• Antibiotic (noun): A type of antibacterial drug originally derived from microorganisms. (e.g., )
• Antibacterial (adjective): Having the property of destroying or inhibiting bacteria. (e.g., )
• Bactericide (noun): An agent that kills bacteria.
• Bacteriostatic (adjective): An agent that inhibits bacterial growth.

Synonyms

• Antibiotic
• Germicide (specifically for killing microbes)
• Antimicrobial agent (a broader term that includes action against other microbes like fungi and viruses)

Related Phrases

• "Course of antibacterial drugs": The full period of treatment with the medication.
  • It is important to complete the full course of antibacterial drugs.
• "Antibacterial drug resistance": The ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of a drug.
  • The overuse of antibacterial drugs contributes to drug resistance.

Noun

1. any drug that destroys bacteria or inhibits their growth