Whats the difference between an antibiotic and an antimicrobial?
Antibiotics are substances that are actually produced by one microorganism and have the ability to kill or inhibit the growth or multiplication (reproduction) of other microorganisms. Penicillin is a classic example of an antibiotic: it is produced by Penicillium fungi but has the ability to kill a number of bacteria and is, therefore, an effective antibiotic (and also an antimicrobial) when used appropriately to treat organisms that are susceptible to its effects. Although the definition of “antibiotic” doesn’t specifically say that they are only effective against bacteria, the vast majority of antibiotics are used primarily to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. Additionally, antibiotics are subdivided into two categories, broad spectrum and narrow spectrum, based on the number and types of bacteria they affect. Broad spectrum antibiotics are effective against many types of bacteria, while narrow spectrum antibiotics are effective against a more limited range of bacteria. Antibio
