What is the Difference Between Antibiotic and Antiseptic and Disinfectant

The key difference between antibiotic and antiseptic and disinfectant is their mechanism of action. Antibiotics work inside the body and are used to kill or inhibit the growth and development of bacteria, while antiseptics work externally in the body to inhibit the growth and development of microorganisms but do not necessarily kill them. Meanwhile, disinfectants work externally on non-living things and destroy bacteria.

Although the terms antibiotics, antiseptics, and disinfectants refer to the same phenomena of inhibiting the growth and development of bacteria, these three forms are applied on different occasions, and the outcomes can be different from each other as well.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is an Antibiotic
3. What is an Antiseptic
4. What is a Disinfectant
5. Antibiotic vs Antiseptic vs Disinfectant in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Antibiotic vs Antiseptic vs Disinfectant

What is an Antibiotic?

Antibiotics include a range of powerful drugs, and these are useful in treating diseases caused by bacteria. However, this medication cannot act against viral diseases such as cold, flu, and cough. The first-ever antibiotic was penicillin, which was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. He also predicted the rise of antibiotic resistance. Typically, an antibiotic kills (or sometimes slows) the growth of bacteria. However, there can be some side effects regarding this medication, such as diarrhea, upset stomach, and nausea.

Before the bacteria start to multiply and cause symptoms, the immune system is able to kill them naturally. White blood cells can attack these harmful bacteria and fight the infection. However, sometimes we need something more powerful to fight against these bacteria, especially if the number of harmful bacteria is excessive. We can use antibiotics on this occasion.

Although penicillin was the first antibiotic to be discovered, there are penicillin-derived medications that are still in use these days. Some of them include ampicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin G, etc. There are some modern antibiotics in use as well. But these are mostly available only upon a prescription. However, topical antibiotics like ointments and creams can be bought over the counter as well.

What is an Antiseptic?

Antiseptics are substances that are used externally and can stop or slow the growth of microorganisms. However, an antiseptic does not necessarily kill microorganisms. These substances are often used in hospitals and other medical settings in order to reduce the risk of infection during surgeries and similar procedures.

There are different types of antiseptics that are in use, such as hand rubs, hand washes, and skin preparations. Some of these antiseptics are available to buy over the counter for use in the household. Sometimes, antiseptics are known as skin disinfectants due to their similarity in action.

What is a Disinfectant?

Disinfectants are chemical substances that can inactivate or destroy microorganisms on inert surfaces. Therefore, it is not recommended to use these chemicals on the skin of living things. This chemical does not necessarily kill microorganisms; for example, it cannot destroy bacterial spores. Therefore, this chemical substance is less effective compared to sterilization.

Generally, we can distinguish a disinfectant from other antimicrobial agents like antibiotics and antiseptics because the latter destroys bacteria on living surfaces. Moreover, disinfectants are different from biocides because the latter is intended to destroy all forms of life and not only microorganisms.

Further, a disinfectant work by destroying the cell wall of microbes or interfering with their metabolism. It is a form of decontamination, so we can define it as a process where physical or chemical methods are used to reduce the amount of pathogenic microorganisms on a surface.

What is the Difference Between Antibiotic and Antiseptic and Disinfectant?

All three chemicals, antibiotics, antiseptics, and disinfectants, are useful in inhibiting or killing bacteria. The key difference between antibiotic and antiseptic and disinfectant is that antibiotics work inside the body and are used to kill and inhibit the growth and development of bacteria, and antiseptics work externally in the body to inhibit the growth and development of microorganisms but does not necessarily kill them whereas disinfectants work externally on non-living things and destroy bacteria.

Summary – Antibiotic vs Antiseptic vs Disinfectant

The key difference between antibiotic and antiseptic and disinfectant is that antibiotics work inside the body and are used to kill and inhibit the growth and development of bacteria, and antiseptics work externally in the body to inhibit the growth and development of microorganisms but does not necessarily kill them whereas disinfectants work externally on non-living things and destroy bacteria.

Reference:

1. “Antibiotics: Uses, Resistance, and Side Effects.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Antibiotics” By Sheep purple (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Purit Antiseptic Liquid” By SAROAFRICA – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
3. “DISINFECTANT PIC” By OpenClipart Vectors at Pixabay –(CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia