antibacterial /-baktir″ē·əl/ [Gk, anti + bakterion, small staff] , 1. pertaining to a substance that kills bacteria or inhibits their growth or replication. 2. an antibacterial agent. Antibiotics synthesized chemically or derived from various microorganisms exert their bactericidal or bacteriostatic effect by interfering with the production of the bacterial plasma wall; by interfering with protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, or plasma membrane integrity; or by inhibiting critical biosynthetic pathways in the bacteria.
