Antimicrobials

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What is an antimicrobial?

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An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

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What is the difference between bactericidal and bacteriostatic?

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Bactericidal agents kill bacteria, while bacteriostatic agents inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria without killing them.

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Define bacteriostatic.

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Bacteriostatic refers to a type of antimicrobial that inhibits the growth and reproduction of bacteria.

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What is a phagocyte?

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A phagocyte is a type of immune cell that engulfs and digests foreign particles, including bacteria and dead or dying cells.

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What does sensitivity refer to in microbiology?

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Sensitivity refers to the susceptibility of bacteria to the effects of an antimicrobial agent, indicating how effective the drug is against the bacteria.

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What is the role of antibiotics?

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Antibiotics are a type of antimicrobial specifically used to treat bacterial infections by either killing bacteria or inhibiting their growth.

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What is the mechanism of action of bactericidal antibiotics?

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Bactericidal antibiotics work by disrupting essential processes in bacteria, such as cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, or DNA replication, leading to bacterial cell death.

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What are broad-spectrum antibiotics?

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Broad-spectrum antibiotics are effective against a wide range of bacteria, both Gram-positive and Gram-negative.

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What are narrow-spectrum antibiotics?

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Narrow-spectrum antibiotics are effective against specific types of bacteria, either Gram-positive or Gram-negative.

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What is antibiotic resistance?

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Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve and develop the ability to survive exposure to antibiotics that would normally kill them or inhibit their growth.