What is an antimicrobial agent?

An antimicrobial agent is defined as a natural or synthetic substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae. From: Textiles for Hygiene and Infection Control, 2011.

What are examples of antimicrobial agents?

They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V. Penicillin antibiotics are historically significant because they are the first drugs that were effective against many previously serious diseases, such as syphilis, and infections caused by staphylococci and streptococci.

What is the most common antimicrobial agent?

Gentamicin and tobramycin are used most commonly and are the primary agents used to treat infections caused by gram-negative rods, most notably Pseudomonas species. Although most antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis are bacteriostatic, the aminoglycosides are frequently bactericidal.

What is the use of antimicrobial agents?

Antimicrobial products kill or slow the spread of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans and fungi such as mold and mildew. Antimicrobial products may be in your home, workplace or school.

What are the 5 major targets of antimicrobial agents?

Five bacterial targets have been exploited in the development of antimicrobial drugs: cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, ribonucleic acid synthesis, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, and intermediary metabolism.

Is bleach an antimicrobial agent?

What is an antimicrobial agent? Antibiotics are a specific type of antimicrobial agent – they kill or limit the growth of microorganisms. Antimicrobial agents are not limited to antibiotics; chemicals like bleach or alcohol will kill bacteria, as will physical processes like heating or ionising radiation.

Is bleach an antimicrobial?

Department of Health – The Use of Bleach. Bleach is a strong and effective disinfectant. Its active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, denatures protein in micro-organisms and is therefore effective in killing bacteria, fungus and viruses. Diluted household bleach is thus recommended for the disinfection of facilities.

Is Penicillin an antimicrobial drug?

Penicillins are a group of antibacterial drugs that attack a wide range of bacteria. They were the first drugs of this type that doctors used. The discovery and manufacture of penicillins have changed the face of medicine, as these drugs have saved millions of lives.

Are antimicrobial and antibiotics the same?

Antibiotics specifically target bacteria and are used to treat bacterial infections. On the other hand, antimicrobials encompass a broader range of products that act on microbes in general. Microbes encompass different types of organisms: bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa.

What is antimicrobial sanitization?

Antimicrobial products kill or slow the spread of microorganisms. Microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and fungi such as mold and mildew.

What are the four modes of action of antimicrobial agents?

MODES OF ACTION: MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE Most antimicrobials fall into one of four main categories, based on their site of activity. These include inhibition of cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, or dis- ruption of cell membrane integrity.

What is an ideal antimicrobial agent?

Ethylene oxide (C 2 H 4 O) is a relatively simple organic compound, and by far, is the most effective and useful gaseous antimicrobial agent known. This compound exists as liquid at temperatures below 10.8°C (51.4°F) and vapourizes rapidly when the temperature moves up.

How do antimicrobial agents kill bacteria?

Antimicrobial agents kill bacteria by different methods depending on the type of bacteria. Most antiseptics and disinfectants kill bacteria immediately by causing the bacterial cell to explode or are known as bacterial conjugation by consuming bacterial resources by preventing the multiplication of bacteria.

What are important characteristics of antimicrobial drugs?

Important characteristics of antimicrobial drugs include. -Low toxicity for human tissue. -high toxicity against microbial cells. -do not cause serious side effects in humans. -stable and soluble in body tissues and fluids.

What is mode of action by antimicrobial agents?

Mode of Action. Some antibiotics work by binding to components involved in the process of DNA or RNA synthesis, which causes interference of the normal cellular processes which will ultimately compromise bacterial multiplication and survival. Examples: quinolones, metronidazole, and rifampin.