1.Of or pertaining to bacteriostasis or a bacteriostat.
2.Causing bacteriostasis; said of chemical substances, such as certain antibacterial agents. Note: Substances, such as antibiotics, which inhibit bacterial growth are usually classified as bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal depending on the rate at which bacteria exposed to the agents (4) die. The rates of death of bacteria exposed to antibacterial agents (4) are, however, dependent on the concentration of the agent (4), and form a continuum with some antibacterial agents (4) of intermediate type. The penicillins are considered as typical bactericidal agents, and chloramphenicol or the sulfa drugs as typical bacteriostatic agents. In general, inhibitors of cell-wall synthesis will be bactericidal and many inhibitors of protein synthesis are classed as bacteriostatic, but some of the aminoglycosides also kill bacteria rapidly.
