antimicrobial: drugs that interfere with the growth of microorganisms within a host antibiotic: an antimicrobial agent, usually produced naturally by a bacterium or fungus chemotherapy: treatment of disease with chemical substances narrow spectrum: only active against a small group of bacteria (you know what specific bacteria you are treating when using these) broad spectrum: work against a wide variety of bacteria (can be used in cases where you may not be exactly sure what bacteria is causing the infection) selective toxicity: the property of some antimicrobial agents to be toxic for a microorganism and nontoxic for the host bactericidal: directly kill the bacteria bacteriostatic: pause or slow the growth of bacteria, allowing for the hosts immune system to kill the bacteria superinfection: the growth pf a pathogen that has developed resistance to an antimicrobial drug being used; the growth of an opportunistic pathogen