An official website of the United States government.
Concept information
Preferred term
antibiotics
Type
-
Chemical
Definition
-
Chemical substances produced by microorganisms or synthetically that inhibit the growth of, or destroy, bacteria. Antibiotics are used at therapeutic levels to fight disease in humans and animals. Since the 1950s they have been used at subtherapeutic levels in animal feeds to enhance growth and prevent disease in livestock and poultry.
Broader concept
Narrower concepts
Synonyms
- anti-bacterial agents
- antibacterial agents
- anti-mycobacterial agents
- antimycobacterial agents
- antitubercular agents
- antitubercular drugs
- bactericides
- bacteriocidal agents
- bacteriocides
In other languages
-
Spanish
URI
https://lod.nal.usda.gov/nalt/10186
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