Just wondering if there is a difference or it’s just a convention of marketing to use these different terms in consumer products.
Main Entry: 1an·ti·sep·tic
Pronunciation: "an-t&-'sep-tik
Function: adjective
Etymology: anti- + Greek sEptikos putrefying, septic
Date: 1751
1 a : opposing sepsis, putrefaction, or decay; especially : preventing or arresting the growth of microorganisms (as on living tissue) b : acting or protecting like an antiseptic
2 : relating to or characterized by the use of antiseptics
3 a : scrupulously clean : ASEPTIC b : extremely neat or orderly; especially : neat to the point of being bare or uninteresting c : free from what is held to be contaminating
4 : coldly impersonal <an antiseptic greeting>
- an·ti·sep·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Main Entry: 1an·ti·bi·ot·ic
Pronunciation: "an-ti-bI-'ä-tik, -"tI-; "an-ti-bE-
Function: adjective
Date: 1894
1 : tending to prevent, inhibit, or destroy life
2 : of or relating to antibiotics or to antibiosis
- an·ti·bi·ot·i·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Main Entry: an·ti·bac·te·ri·al
Pronunciation: "an-ti-bak-'tir-E-&l, "an-"tI-
Function: adjective
Date: circa 1897
: directed or effective against bacteria
- antibacterial noun
etrial?
the more medically oriented definitions:
1)Antiseptic: A substance that inhibits the growth and development of microorganisms without necessarily killing them. Fire is antiseptic, as is hydrochloric acid. However, neither is ideal for treating a bladder infection as a result.
2)antibiotic: A chemical substance often produced by a microorganism which has the capacity, in dilute solutions, to inhibit the growth of or to kill other microorganisms.
Antibiotics that are sufficiently nontoxic to the host are used as chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of infectious diseases of man, animals and plants.
3)antibacterial: A substance that destroys bacteria or suppresses their growth or reproduction.
from: http://www.graylab.ac.uk
To simplify: Antiseptics kill or inhibit microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans, etc. Antibiotics kill bacterial in such a way that they can be safely given to other organisms like humans. Antibacterials kill bacteria.
some simple, rough, real world definitions
antiseptic: a solution that “sterilizes”. Used topically . i.e. alcohol, hydrogen peroxide.
Antibiotic: drug specifically designed to kill bacteria. Taken internally i.e. penicillin, amoxycillin
Antibacterial: Chemical used to kill bacterial topically and on surfaces. Usually unsuitable for internal medicine
etrial: typo by Cranky. Caused by mistyping “antibacterial” and not being overly careful on the correction.
Beeblebrox: slow SDMB typer who is easily distracted and thus usually beaten by more competent posters (antonym: Qadgop)
Lets not forget microbicides such as iodine
Lets not forget microbicides such as iodine.
Was actually wondering what the difference between microbicides and antibacterial solutions yesterday.
I thought I had the distinctions down as they’e been given so far, but I swear I’ve seen some topical ointments called “antibiotic cream”. That wouldn’t be internal.
Cranky, note that my definition of antibiotic says nothing about “internal”.
Qadgop, MD
Microbes are little organisms like fungi, bacteria, etc. A microbicide kills them off. The difference between a microbicide and an antiseptic is that an antiseptic is suppoed to prevent putrefaction or decay, whether the ting treated is alive or not. A microbicide is for killing microbes, but generally on a living organism.
An antibiotic is a drug. An antibacterial is anything that kills the little buggers. Those are more medical terms - use an antibacterial to clean the operating instruments, then give the patient an antibiotic.
Treat the mummy with an antiseptic, wash my body piercings with an antimicrobial.
I just wrote a whole answer and accidentally deleted it with a keystroke… Gr.
An antimicrobial kills microbes - bacteria, fungi, whatever. It’s generally used on surfaces. An antiseptic is used to prevent putrefaction or decay, whether the thing is living or not.
Antibiotic and antibacterial are more medical terms - an antibiotic is a treatment, while an antibacterial substance my not be safe for consumption when used at effective levels. Treat the operating instruments with an antibacterial, give the patient an antibiotic.
Treat the mummy with an antiseptic, wash my body jewelry with an antimicrobial.
Now what’s an unclebiotic?
Looks like I didn’t delete it after all. I’m just going to go back to bed.
Well, yes, but I couldn’t understand yours. LOL