Difference Between Antibacterial and Antimicrobial

In this article we will discuss the Differences between Antibacterial and Antimicrobial. The main agents used for the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases of different etiologies are antibacterial and antimicrobial. Both are a large group of preparations of specific action which are further subdivided according to the pathogenic agent against which they are effective.

Antibacterial destroys and prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi, while antimicrobials are effective against bacteria, fungi, parasites, and some viruses. In fact, antibacterial is a type of antimicrobial.

Definition of Antibacteria

Antibacterials are agents that destroy bacteria and fungi, suppressing their growth or ability to reproduce. Antibacterial agents include antibiotics and chemotherapy.

Antibiotics are a large group of antibacterial preparations, which are produced by bacteria or fungi. They are widely used in clinical practice and prescribed in various infections of bacterial or mycotic etiology.

The first known natural antibiotic was penicillin, discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. This antibiotic was isolated from the fungus Penicillium rubens and is widely used for the treatment of syphilis, Lyme disease, streptococcal, pneumococcal, and meningococcal infections, etc. Examples of antibiotics are aminoglycosides, amphenicols, glycopeptide antibiotics, carbapenems, macrolides, penicillins, quinolones, etc. Chemotherapy is a synthetically produced antibacterial agent.

Bacteria are capable of developing resistance to certain drugs by a variety of mechanisms, the most common of which is mutation of certain genes that increase their resistance. As a result of the widespread use of antibacterials, there is an increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This poses a serious threat to global public health.

Different antibacterial preparations have different mechanisms of action. For example, penicillin groups bind to specific structures in bacteria, thereby activating enzymes in their walls, leading to self-destruction. Tetracyclines, suppressing several stages of protein synthesis in microorganisms, lead to the cessation of their proliferation. Polymyksins impair the permeability of bacterial membranes. They act destructively especially on gram negative bacteria.

Definition of Antimicrobial

Antimicrobials are agents that destroy microorganisms, suppressing their growth or ability to reproduce.

Antimicrobial agents are used to treat or prevent infectious diseases of various etiologies. They are a large group of preparations, subdivided according to the type of action and the pathogenic agent against which they are effective.

Depending on their properties, antimicrobial agents are divided into two main groups. The first group consists of preparations that kill microbes (bactericides, virucides, fungicides). The second group consists of preparations, suppressing their growth and multiplication (bacteriostatics, viruostatics, fungostatics).

Some antimicrobial agents are administered once (eg in worms), others require intake for a relatively long time (eg in bacterial infections) or for life (antiretroviral drugs used in AIDS).

The main groups of antimicrobials include antibacterial agents, antiviral agents, antimycotic agents, antiparasitic agents, essential oils, disinfectants, and antiseptics. Antibacterial agents include antibiotics produced by bacteria or fungi and chemotherapy, which are produced synthetically.

Anti-viral drugs are characterized by a narrow spectrum of action. There is little difference between the maximum therapeutic dose and the minimum toxic dose, so it should be applied with caution. The main groups of antivirals target several major viral families – retroviruses, hepatitis and herpes viruses, and influenza viruses. They are prescribed for infected people. Their main goal is to kill viruses or suppress their multiplication. Examples of such preparations are oseltamivir, rimantadine, and amantadine, which are used against influenza viruses.

Human and fungal cells are both eukaryotic, which makes it difficult to synthesize preparations that are active against fungi and safe for host cells. Preparations used in the treatment of mycotic infections (antimycotic agents) are antibiotics and chemotherapy that destroy pathogenic fungi by various mechanisms. They affect the permeability of cell membranes, inhibit cell division, inhibit cell wall synthesis or essential nucleic acid synthesis. The most commonly used antimycotic agents belong to the azole group (ketoconazole, fluconazole), allylamines (terbinafine) and polyene antibiotics (amphotericin B, nystatin).

Antiparasitic agents are used in infections caused by different worm species (nematodes, trematodes, cestodes) or protozoan species (malaria, trichomoniasis, toxoplasmosis).

A number of essential oils have antimicrobial effects, including cinnamon, clove, and thyme oil which are rich in terpenoids and secondary metabolites.

Antiseptics and disinfectants destroy all microorganisms and are mainly used for disinfection of skin, mucous membranes, medical equipment, clothing, water, etc.

Ozone also has antimicrobial activity. It is mainly used to purify water and air. In medicine, so-called ozone therapy is used in inflammatory, neoplastic, autoimmune, and infectious diseases.

Physical methods with antimicrobial effect are the use of radiation and dry heat sterilization.

Here are some Differences Between Antibacterial and Antimicrobial that we have summarized:

By Definition
Antibacterial: Antibacterial are agents that destroy bacteria and fungi, suppressing their growth or ability to reproduce. Antimicrobial: Antimicrobials are agents that destroy microorganisms, suppressing their growth or ability to reproduce.

By Type
Antibacterial: Antibacterial agents include antibiotics and chemotherapy. Antimicrobial: Antimicrobial agents include antibacterial agents, antivirals, antimycotic agents, antiparasitic agents, some essential oils, disinfectants, and antiseptics.

In usage
Antibacterial: Antibacterial agents are widely used in clinical practice and prescribed in many infections with bacterial or mycotic etiology. Antimicrobial: Antimicrobial agents are used for the treatment of bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic diseases, for the disinfection of skin, mucous membranes, medical equipment, clothing, water, etc.

For example
Antibacterial: Examples of antibacterial agents are aminoglycosides, amphenicols, glycopeptide antibiotics, carbapenems, macrolides, penicillins, quinolones, etc. Antimicrobials: Examples of antimicrobial agents are carbapenems, macrolides, penicillins, quinolones, oseltamivir, rimantadine, amantadine, ketoconazole, fluconazole, etc.