Bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit growth and reproduction of bacteria without killing them; killing is done by bactericidal agents. Bacteriostatic agents must work with the immune system to remove the microorganisms from the body. However, there is not always a precise distinction between them and bactericides; high concentrations of most bacteriostatic agents are also bactericidal, whereas low concentrations of bacteriocidal agents are only bacteriostatic.

This group includes the

• tetracyclines
• sulphonamides
• spectinomycin
• trimethoprim
• chloramphenicol
• macrolides
• lincosamides

See also

• list of antibiotics