Bacteriostat

Bacteriostat

A bacteriostat is a biological or chemical agent that causes bacteriostasis. It stops bacteria from reproducing, while not necessarily harming them otherwise. Upon removal of the bacteriostat, the bacteria usually start to grow again. Bacteriostats are often used in plastics to prevent growth of bacteria on the plastic surface. This is in contrast to bacteriocides, which kill bacteria.

Bacteriostats commonly used in laboratory work include sodium azide and thimerosol.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • bacteriostat — acteriostat n. a chemical or biological material that inhibits bacterial growth. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bacteriostat — noun Date: 1920 an agent that causes bacteriostasis • bacteriostatic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • bacteriostat — a chemical that restricts the proliferation of bacteria …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • bacteriostat — /bak tear ee euh stat /, n. a substance or preparation that inhibits the further growth of bacteria. [1915 20; BACTERIO + STAT] * * * …   Universalium

  • bacteriostat — noun A biological or chemical agent that causes bacteriostasis …   Wiktionary

  • bacteriostat — Any agent that inhibits or retards bacterial growth. SYN: bacteriostatic agent. * * * bac·te·ri·o·stat tir ē ō .stat also bac·te·ri·o·stat·ic .tir ē ō stat ik n an agent that causes bacteriostasis * * * bac·te·rio·stat (bak tērґe o… …   Medical dictionary

  • bacteriostat — n. substance that slows or inhibits the growth of bacteria …   English contemporary dictionary

  • bacteriostat — [bak tɪərɪə(ʊ)stat] noun a substance that prevents the multiplying of bacteria without destroying them. Derivatives bacteriostasis noun bacteriostatic adjective Origin early 20th cent.: from bacterium + Gk statos standing …   English new terms dictionary

  • bacteriostat — bac·te·rio·stat …   English syllables

  • bacteriostat — bac•te•ri•o•stat [[t]bækˈtɪər i əˌstæt[/t]] n. mcr a substance or preparation that inhibits the further growth of bacteria • Etymology: 1915–20 …   From formal English to slang

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