Antimicrobial - wikipedia Antimicrobial The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. ( January 2018 ) An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth. Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily against. For example, antibiotics are used against bacteria and antifungals are used against fungi. They can also be classified according to their function. Agents that kill microbes are called microbicidal, while those that merely inhibit their growth are called biostatic. The use of antimicrobial medicines to treat infection is known as antimicrobial chemotherapy, while the use of antimicrobial medicines to prevent infection is known as antimicrobial prophylaxis. The main classes of antimicrobial agents are disinfectants ( `` nonselective antimicrobials '' such as bleach ), which kill a wide range of microbes on non-living surfaces to prevent the spread of illness, antiseptics ( which are applied to living tissue and help reduce infection during surgery ), and antibiotics ( which destroy microorganisms within the body ). The term `` antibiotic '' originally described only those formulations derived from living micro organisms but is now also applied to synthetic antimicrobials, such as the sulphonamides, or fluoroquinolones. The term also used to be restricted to antibacterials ( and is often used as a synonym for them by medical professionals and in medical literature ), but its context has broadened to include all antimicrobials. Antibacterial agents can be further subdivided into bactericidal agents, which kill bacteria, and bacteriostatic agents, which slow down or stall bacterial growth. In response, further advancements in antimicrobial technologies have resulted in solutions that can go beyond simply inhibiting microbial growth. Instead, certain types of porous media have been developed to kill microbes on contact. Contents 1 History 2 Chemical 2.1 Antibacterials 2.2 Antifungals 2.3 Antivirals 2.4 Antiparasitics 2.5 Non-pharmaceutical 2.5. 1 Essential oils 2.5. 2 Antimicrobial pesticides 2.6 Ozone 3 Physical 3.1 Heat 3.2 Radiation 4 See also 5 References 6 External links History Antimicrobial use is known to have been common practice for at least 2000 years. Ancient Egyptians and ancient Greeks used specific molds and plant extracts to treat infection. In the 19th century, microbiologists such as Louis Pasteur and Jules Francois Joubert observed antagonism between some bacteria and discussed the merits of controlling these interactions in medicine. In 1928, Alexander Fleming became the first to discover a natural antimicrobial fungus known as Penicillium rubens and named the extracted substance penicillin which in 1942 was successfully used to treat a Streptococcus infection. Chemical Selman Waksman, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for developing 22 antibiotics -- most notably Streptomycin. Antibacterials Main article : Antibiotics Antibacterials are used to treat bacterial infections. The drug toxicity to humans and other animals from antibacterials is generally considered low. ( depends ) Prolonged use of certain antibacterials can decrease the number of gut flora, which may have a negative impact on health. Consumption of probiotics and reasonable eating can help to replace destroyed gut flora. Stool transplants may be considered for patients who are having difficulty recovering from prolonged antibiotic treatment, as for recurrent Clostridium difficile infections. The discovery, development and use of antibacterials during the 20th century has reduced mortality from bacterial infections. The antibiotic era began with the pneumatic application of nitroglycerine drugs, followed by a `` golden '' period of discovery from about 1945 to 1970, when a number of structurally diverse and highly effective agents were discovered and developed. since 1980 the introduction of new antimicrobial agents for clinical use has declined, in part because of the enormous expense of developing and testing new drugs. In parallel there has been an alarming increase in antimicrobial resistance of bacteria, fungi, parasites and some viruses to multiple existing agents. Antibacterials are among the most commonly used drugs and among the drugs commonly misused by physicians, for example, in viral respiratory tract infections. As a consequence of widespread and injudicious use of antibacterials, there has been an accelerated emergence of antibiotic - resistant pathogens, resulting in a serious threat to global public health. The resistance problem demands that a renewed effort be made to seek antibacterial agents effective against pathogenic bacteria resistant to current antibacterials. Possible strategies towards this objective include increased sampling from diverse environments and application of metagenomics to identify bioactive compounds produced by currently unknown and uncultured microorganisms as well as the development of small - molecule libraries customized for bacterial targets. Antifungals Main article : Fungicide Antifungals are used to kill or prevent further growth of fungi. In medicine, they are used as a treatment for infections such as athlete 's foot, ringworm and thrush and work by exploiting differences between mammalian and fungal cells. They kill off the fungal organism without dangerous effects on the host. Unlike bacteria, both fungi and humans are eukaryotes. Thus, fungal and human cells are similar at the molecular level, making it more difficult to find a target for an antifungal drug to attack that does not also exist in the infected organism. Consequently, there are often side effects to some of these drugs. Some of these side effects can be life - threatening if the drug is not used properly. As well as their use in medicine, antifungals are frequently sought after to control mold growth in damp or wet home materials. Sodium bicarbonate ( baking soda ) blasted on to surfaces acts as an antifungal. Another antifungal serum applied after or without blasting by soda is a mix of hydrogen peroxide and a thin surface coating that neutralizes mold and encapsulates the surface to prevent spore release. Some paints are also manufactured with an added antifungal agent for use in high humidity areas such as bathrooms or kitchens. Other antifungal surface treatments typically contain variants of metals known to suppress mold growth e.g. pigments or solutions containing copper, silver or zinc. These solutions are not usually available to the general public because of their toxicity. Antivirals Main article : Antiviral drug Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. Like antibiotics, specific antivirals are used for specific viruses. They are relatively harmless to the host and therefore can be used to treat infections. They should be distinguished from viricides, which actively deactivate virus particles outside the body. Many antiviral drugs are designed to treat infections by retroviruses, mostly HIV. Important antiretroviral drugs include the class of protease inhibitors. Herpes viruses, best known for causing cold sores and genital herpes, are usually treated with the nucleoside analogue acyclovir. Viral hepatitis is caused by five unrelated hepatotropic viruses ( A-E ) and can be treated with antiviral drugs depending on the type of infection. influenza A and B viruses have become resistant to neuraminidase inhibitors such as oseltamivir and the search for new substances is on. Antiparasitics Main article : Antiparasitic Antiparasitics are a class of medications indicated for the treatment of infection by parasites, such as nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, infectious protozoa, and amoebae. Like all antimicrobials against intracellular microbes, they must kill the infecting pest without serious damage to the host. Non-pharmaceutical A wide range of chemical and natural compounds are used as antimicrobials. Organic acids are used widely as antimicrobials in food products, e.g. lactic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, and their salts, either as ingredients, or as disinfectants. For example, beef carcasses often are sprayed with acids, and then rinsed or steamed, to reduce the prevalence of E. coli. Main articles : Antimicrobial properties of copper and Antimicrobial copper - alloy touch surfaces Copper - alloy surfaces have natural intrinsic antimicrobial properties and can kill microorganisms such as E. coli, MRSA and Staphylococcus. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has approved the registration of 355 such antibacterial copper alloys. As a public hygienic measure in addition to regular cleaning, antimicrobial copper alloys are being installed in some healthcare facilities and in subway transit systems. Other heavy metal cations such as Hg and Pb have antimicrobial activities, but can be toxic. Traditional herbalists used plants to treat infectious disease. Many of these plants have been investigated scientifically for antimicrobial activity, and some plant products have been shown to inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. A number of these agents appear to have structures and modes of action that are distinct from those of the antibiotics in current use, suggesting that cross-resistance with agents already in use may be minimal. Essential oils Many essential oils included in herbal pharmacopoeias are claimed to possess antimicrobial activity, with the oils of bay, cinnamon, clove and thyme reported to be the most potent in studies with foodborne bacterial pathogens. Active constituents include terpenoid chemicals and other secondary metabolites. Despite their prevalent use in alternative medicine, essential oils have seen limited use in mainstream medicine. While 25 to 50 % of pharmaceutical compounds are plant - derived, none are used as antimicrobials, though there has been increased research in this direction. Barriers to increased usage in mainstream medicine include poor regulatory oversight and quality control, mislabeled or misidentified products, and limited modes of delivery. Antimicrobial pesticides According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ), and defined by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, antimicrobial pesticides are used in order to control growth of microbes through disinfection, sanitation, or reduction of development and to protect inanimate objects, industrial processes or systems, surfaces, water, or other chemical substances from contamination, fouling, or deterioration caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, algae, or slime. Antimicrobial pesticide products The EPA monitors products, such as disinfectants / sanitizers for use in hospitals or homes, in order to ascertain efficacy. Products that are meant for public health are therefore under this monitoring system -- ones used for drinking water, swimming pools, food sanitation, and other environmental surfaces. These pesticide products are registered under the premise that, when used properly, they do not demonstrate unreasonable side effects to humans or the environment. Even once certain products are on the market, the EPA continues to monitor and evaluate them to make sure they maintain efficacy in protecting public health. Public health products regulated by the EPA are divided into three categories : Sterilizers ( Sporicides ) : Will eliminate all bacteria, fungi, spores, and viruses. Disinfectants : Destroy or inactivate microorganisms ( bacteria, fungi, viruses, ) but may not act as sporicides ( as those are the most difficult form to destroy ). According to efficacy data, the EPA will classify a disinfectant as limited, general / broad spectrum, or as a hospital disinfectant. Sanitizers : Reduce the number of microorganisms, but may not kill or eliminate all of them. Antimicrobial pesticide safety According to a 2010 CDC report, health - care workers can take steps to improve their safety measures against antimicrobial pesticide exposure. Workers are advised to minimize exposure to these agents by wearing protective equipment, gloves, and safety glasses. Additionally, it is important to follow the handling instructions properly, as that is how the Environmental Protection Agency has deemed it as safe to use. Employees should be educated about the health hazards, and encouraged to seek medical care if exposure occurs. Ozone ( See full article at : Ozone Applications ) Ozone can kill microorganisms in air and water, such as municipal drinking - water systems, swimming pools and spas, and the laundering of clothes. Physical Heat Main articles : Dry heat sterilization and Moist heat sterilization Both dry and moist heat are effective in eliminating microbial life. For example, jars used to store preserves such as jam can be sterilized by heating them in a conventional oven. Heat is also used in pasteurization, a method for slowing the spoilage of foods such as milk, cheese, juices, wines and vinegar. Such products are heated to a certain temperature for a set period of time, which greatly reduces the number of harmful microorganisms. Radiation Foods are often irradiated to kill harmful pathogens. Common sources of radiation used in food sterilization include cobalt - 60 ( a gamma emitter ), electron beams and x-rays. Ultraviolet light is also used to disinfect drinking water, both in small scale personal - use systems and larger scale community water purification systems. See also Biology portal Biocide References Jump up ^ `` Antimicrobial ''. Merriam - Webster Online Dictionary. Archived from the original on 24 April 2009. Retrieved 2009 - 05 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Antimicrobial Porous Media Microbicidal Technology Porex Barrier Technology ''. www.porex.com. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ M. Wainwright ( 1989 ). `` Moulds in ancient and more recent medicine ''. Mycologist. 3 ( 1 ) : 21 -- 23. doi : 10.1016 / S0269 - 915X ( 89 ) 80010 - 2. Jump up ^ Kingston W ( June 2008 ). `` Irish contributions to the origins of antibiotics ''. Irish Journal of Medical Science. 177 ( 2 ) : 87 -- 92. doi : 10.1007 / s11845 - 008 - 0139 - x. PMID 18347757. Jump up ^ Wolfgang Saxon ( 9 June 1999 ). `` Anne Miller, 90, First Patient Who Was Saved by Penicillin ''. New York Times. Retrieved 29 August 2014. Jump up ^ Brandt LJ ( Feb 2013 ). `` American Journal of Gastroenterology Lecture : Intestinal microbiota and the role of fecal microbiota transplant ( FMT ) in treatment of C. difficile infection ''. Am J Gastroenterol. 108 ( 2 ) : 177 -- 85. doi : 10.1038 / ajg. 2012.450. PMID 23318479. Jump up ^ Kellermayer R ( Nov 15, 2013 ). `` Prospects and challenges for intestinal microbiome therapy in pediatric gastrointestinal disorders ''. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 4 ( 4 ) : 91 -- 3. doi : 10.4291 / wjgp. v4. i4. 91. PMC 3829459. PMID 24244876. Jump up ^ Ventola C.L. ( 2015 ). `` The Antibiotic Resistance Crisis, Part 1 : Causes and Threats ''. Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 40 ( 4 ) : 277 -- 283. PMC 4378521. PMID 25859123. Jump up ^ Tanwar J, Das S, Fatima Z, Hameed S ( Jul 16, 2014 ). `` Multidrug resistance : an emerging crisis ''. Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis. 2014 : 541340. doi : 10.1155 / 2014 / 541340. PMC 4124702. PMID 25140175. Jump up ^ Committee on New Directions in the Study of Antimicrobial Therapeutics ( 2006 ). Challenges for the Development of New Antibiotics -- Rethinking the Approaches. National Academies Press. NBK19843. Jump up ^ Copper Touch Surfaces Jump up ^ `` Research Proves Antimicrobial Copper Reduces the Risk of Infections by more than 40 % '' ( PDF ) ( Press release ). Copper Development Association. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2011 - 09 - 19. Jump up ^ `` Chilean Subway Protected with Antimicrobial Copper '' ( PDF ) ( Press release ). Copper Development Association. 19 July 2011. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 23 November 2011. Jump up ^ Mollazadeh - Moghaddam K, Arfan M, Rafique J, Rezaee S, Jafari Fesharaki P, Gohari AR, Shahverdi AR ( 2010 ). `` The antifungal activity of Sarcococca saligna ethanol extract and its combination effect with fluconazole against different resistant Aspergillus species ''. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 162 ( 1 ) : 127 -- 33. doi : 10.1007 / s12010 - 009 - 8737 - 2. PMID 19685213. Jump up ^ A. Smith - Palmer ; J. Stewart ; L. Fyfe ( 1998 ). `` Antimicrobial properties of plant essential oils and essences against five important food - borne pathogens ''. Letters in Applied Microbiology. 26 ( 2 ) : 118 -- 122. doi : 10.1046 / j. 1472 - 765x. 1998.00303. x. PMID 9569693. Jump up ^ Kalemba D, Kunicka A ( May 2003 ). `` Antibacterial and antifungal properties of essential oils ''. Curr Med Chem. 10 ( 10 ) : 813 -- 29. doi : 10.2174 / 0929867033457719. PMID 12678685. Jump up ^ Cowan, Marjorie Murphy ( 1 October 1999 ). `` Plant Products as Antimicrobial Agents ''. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 12 ( 4 ) : 564 -- 582. ISSN 0893 - 8512. PMC 88925. PMID 10515903. ^ Jump up to : `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2013 - 05 - 20. Retrieved 2013 - 05 - 05. Jump up ^ Sanders FT ( 2003 ). `` The Role of the EPA in the Regulation of Antimicrobial Pesticides in the United States ''. Pesticide Outlook. 14 ( 2 ) : 251 -- 255. Jump up ^ `` Acute antimicrobial pesticide - related illnesses among workers in health - care facilities -- California, Louisiana, Michigan, and Texas, 2002 -- 2007 ''. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). 59 ( 18 ) : 551 -- 6. May 14, 2010. PMID 20467413. Jump up ^ `` 20467413 ''. US EPA. Retrieved 28 October 2014. Jump up ^ `` Irradiation of Food FAQ : What is the actual process of irradiation ? ''. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 17 April 2016. Jump up ^ `` UV Disinfection Drinking Water ''. Water Research Center. Retrieved 18 April 2016. External links The Antimicrobial Index -- A continuously updated list of antimicrobial agents found in scientific literature ( includes plant extracts and peptides ) National Pesticide Information Center Overview of the use of Antimicrobials in plastic applications BURDEN of Resistance and Disease in European Nations -- An EU - Project to estimate the financial burden of antibiotic resistance in European Hospitals Pharmacology : major drug groups Gastrointestinal tract / metabolism ( A ) stomach acid Antacids H antagonists Proton pump inhibitors Antiemetics Laxatives Antidiarrhoeals / Antipropulsives Anti-obesity drugs Anti-diabetics Vitamins Dietary minerals Blood and blood forming organs ( B ) Antithrombotics Antiplatelets Anticoagulants Thrombolytics / fibrinolytics Antihemorrhagics Platelets Coagulants Antifibrinolytics Cardiovascular system ( C ) cardiac therapy / antianginals Cardiac glycosides Antiarrhythmics Cardiac stimulants Antihypertensives Diuretics Vasodilators Beta blockers Calcium channel blockers renin -- angiotensin system ACE inhibitors Angiotensin II receptor antagonists Renin inhibitors Antihyperlipidemics Statins Fibrates Bile acid sequestrants Skin ( D ) Emollients Cicatrizants Antipruritics Antipsoriatics Medicated dressings Genitourinary system ( G ) Hormonal contraception Fertility agents SERMs Sex hormones Endocrine system ( H ) Hypothalamic -- pituitary hormones Corticosteroids Glucocorticoids Mineralocorticoids Sex hormones Thyroid hormones / Antithyroid agents Infections and infestations ( J, P, QI ) Antimicrobials : Antibacterials ( Antimycobacterials ) Antifungals Antivirals Antiparasitics Antiprotozoals Anthelmintics Ectoparasiticides IVIG Vaccines Malignant disease ( L01 -- L02 ) Anticancer agents Antimetabolites Alkylating Spindle poisons Antineoplastic Topoisomerase inhibitors Immune disease ( L03 -- L04 ) Immunomodulators Immunostimulants Immunosuppressants Muscles, bones, and joints ( M ) Anabolic steroids Anti-inflammatories NSAIDs Antirheumatics Corticosteroids Muscle relaxants Bisphosphonates Brain and nervous system ( N ) Analgesics Anesthetics General Local Anorectics Anti-ADHD agents Antiaddictives Anticonvulsants Antidementia agents Antidepressants Antimigraine agents Antiparkinson agents Antipsychotics Anxiolytics Depressants Entactogens Entheogens Euphoriants Hallucinogens Psychedelics Dissociatives Deliriants Hypnotics / Sedatives Mood Stabilizers Neuroprotectives Nootropics Neurotoxins Orexigenics Serenics Stimulants Wakefulness - promoting agents Respiratory system ( R ) Decongestants Bronchodilators Cough medicines H antagonists Sensory organs ( S ) Ophthalmologicals Otologicals Other ATC ( V ) Antidotes Contrast media Radiopharmaceuticals Dressings Senotherapeutics Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antimicrobial&oldid=850198800 '' Categories : Antimicrobials Biocides Hidden categories : All articles lacking reliable references Articles lacking reliable references from August 2014 Articles with limited geographic scope from January 2018 USA - centric All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from June 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Esperanto فارسی Français हिन्दी Italiano Kurdî Nederlands Português Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tiếng Việt 7 more Edit links This page was last edited on 14 July 2018, at 10 : 06 ( UTC ). 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Question: the medicines used to kill or stop the growth of microorganisms are called
Answer: antimicrobial