bakteriostatisk

Bakteriostatisk refers to a property or substance that inhibits the growth and reproduction of bacteria without necessarily killing them. This is distinct from bactericidal agents, which actively kill bacteria. A bacteriostatic agent essentially puts bacteria into a dormant state, preventing them from multiplying and thus allowing the host's immune system to clear the infection.

Many antibiotics function as bacteriostatic agents. They work by interfering with essential bacterial processes such as protein synthesis, DNA replication, or cell wall formation. For example, tetracyclines inhibit protein synthesis by binding to the bacterial ribosome, preventing the addition of new amino acids to the growing protein chain. Chloramphenicol also inhibits protein synthesis, though through a different mechanism. Sulfonamides interfere with folic acid synthesis, a crucial nutrient for bacterial growth.

The effectiveness of bacteriostatic agents relies on the host's immune system to eliminate the weakened or dormant bacteria. This makes them generally more suitable for treating chronic infections or in individuals with a robust immune system. In contrast, bactericidal agents are often preferred for severe or life-threatening infections, or in immunocompromised patients, where rapid elimination of bacteria is critical. The distinction between bacteriostatic and bactericidal can sometimes be dose-dependent or depend on the specific bacterial species being targeted.