Definitions
Drug Resistance
View the illustration: What is drug resistance?
Antimicrobial
Antimicrobial is a general term given to substances including medicines that kill or slow the growth of microbes.
Microbe is a collective name given to bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), viruses (influenza, which causes the "flu"), fungi (e.g., Candida albicans, which causes some yeast infections), and parasites (e.g., Plasmodium falciparum, which causes malaria).
Examples of antimicrobial agents:
- Tetracycline (one antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections)
- Oseltamivir or Tamiflu® (antiviral that treats the flu)
- Terbinafine or Lamisil® (antifungal that treats athlete’s foot)
Antibiotic
An antibiotic is a medicine designed to kill or slow the growth of bacteria and some fungi. Antibiotics are commonly used to fight bacterial infections, but cannot fight against infections caused by viruses.
Example of an antibiotic:
- Azithromycin or Zithromax (Z-Pak)®
- Vancomycin is the last line of defense for certain methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.
Antibacterial
Antibacterial is the term given to substances that kill or slow the growth of bacteria when treating human and environmental surfaces. These include substances that aid in proper hygiene.
Examples of antibacterial-containing commercial products
- Hand soaps, gels, foams
- Dishwashing detergents
- Mattresses
MRSA and VRE
Examples of antimicrobial (drug) resistance:
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