Is an antimicrobial the same as an antibiotic

Antibiotic: A compound that inhibits the growth or kills bacteria. In recent years, ‘antibiotic’ has become synonymous with ‘antibacterial’.

Antibacterial: A drug, chemical or other substance that kills bacteria (bactericidal) or stops their growth (bacteriostatic).

Antimicrobial: A drug, chemical or other substance that kills, inactivates or slows the growth of microbes, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

Industry expert Anthony J. O'Lenick Jr. investigates the difference between an antimicrobial agent, a preservative and an antibiotic. He finds the answer on www.medterms.com.

An antimicrobial agent either kills or retards the growth of microbes. Antimicrobial agents that inhibit microbes have the suffix “static” added to their root, i.e. bacteriostatic, while agents that kill microbes have the suffix “cidal” added to their root, i.e. bactericidal. Antimicrobial agents include antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiparisitic agents.

A preservative is a natural or synthetic chemical that is added to products such as foods, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals to prevent spoilage. Similar to antimicrobials, preservatives prevent the growth of molds, yeasts and bacteria. Preservatives serving as antioxidants keep products from becoming rancid, browning or developing black spots. Preservatives include BHT, BHA, sorbates, parabens and recently antibiotics.

Antibiotics are the products of microbes; in dilute solution, they inhibit or kill other organisms. Antimicrobial agents include antibiotics and synthetic compounds that have the same effect. Naturally occurring antibiotics may be modified to give semisynthetic derivatives. These often differ from their parent compound in their antimicrobial activity or their pharmacological properties. Antibiotics are selectively toxic, meaning that unlike chemical compounds such as strychnine and arsenic with high toxicity against all cells, antibiotics target microbes, have no or few side effects and have high effective target activity.

Almost everywhere you look, you can find microorganisms, or microbes, living organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye. While some microbes are good and important to many ecosystems, others can cause serious illnesses. That’s why we rely on the “good chemistry” of substances known as antimicrobial.

Antimicrobials, also known as biocides, prevent the growth and spread of unwanted microbes. We rely on a class of antimicrobials known as disinfectants to kill many disease-causing viruses (like the flu), bacteria (examples include E. coli and salmonella), fungi (such as mold) and other microbes before they can make you and your family sick. Disinfectants are used in hospitals, homes, schools, and countless other spaces to help kill germs, treat drinking water, ensure products last longer, and keep manufacturing processes running safely. As you can see, these good chemistry touch many aspects of our daily lives.
Learn Where Antimicrobials Are Used

What Kind of ANTI Are You?

If you’re anti-odor, anti-spoil or anti-spread (and who isn’t?), antimicrobials are here to protect you in countless ways each day.

Antimicrobials act as tiny superheroes in our everyday lives. You may not be aware of their powers – but have been saved by them in your daily routine.
LEARN your ANTI

Antimicrobials, Antibacterials, Antibiotics – Are They All the Same?

Antimicrobials, antibacterials, antibiotics – they’re all the same, right? Although these sound similar, there are distinct differences between these chemistries.

Antibiotics are antimicrobials but not all antimicrobials are antibiotics. Antimicrobial medicines used to treat or prevent bacterial infections in humans or animals are antibiotics. And, while antibacterial products prevent the development of bacteria, antimicrobials have a broader spectrum and can kill and stop the spread of bacteria, fungi, and some viruses. This website focuses on antimicrobials that control harmful microbes on inanimate objects and surfaces.

Antibiotics are important medicines for the treatment of bacterial infections in humans and animals. Since their introduction in the 1940’s, antibiotics have saved countless lives and have made many medical procedures possible or safer.

Difference between antimicrobials and antibiotics

There are many different compounds that can inhibit the growth of microorganisms. ‘Antimicrobials‘, ‘antibacterials’ and ‘antibiotics’ are commonly used terms to define these compounds and often they are used interchangeably, but there are important differences between these words:

• Antimicrobials is a wider term that includes all agents that act against microorganisms, namely bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa.

• Antibacterials act only on bacteria. This term broadly defines all compounds that act against bacteria, including antibiotics. Today the term is sometimes used for different types of disinfectants that are not used as medicine, such as alcohol or triclosan.

• Antibiotics are produced naturally by microorganisms and kill or inhibit the growth of other microorganisms, mainly bacteria. The word comes from the Greek words ‘anti’, meaning ‘against’, and ‘biotikos’, meaning ‘concerning life’. Strictly speaking, antibiotics do not include agents that are produced by chemical or biochemical synthesis. However for simplicity, synthetic or semi-synthetic variants (such as quinolones) are usually included under the term antibiotics. In this Toolbox, the term antibiotic is used for naturally produced and synthetic compounds that are active against bacteria, mainly those that have been approved for treatment of bacterial infections in humans and/or animals.

Antibiotics act on bacteria, not viruses

Antibiotics are mainly active against bacteria, but can also have activity against for example some parasites. They do not cure infections caused by viruses. Below are some examples of bacterial and viral infections:

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