The agents that cause disease fall into five groups: viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and helminths (worms). Protozoa and worms are usually grouped together as parasites, and are the subject of the discipline of parasitology, whereas viruses, bacteria, and fungi are the subject of microbiology.

What are antimicrobial agents with examples?

Antimicrobial agents are classified into several categories, i.e. inhibitors for bacterial cell wall such as beta-lactam drugs, fosfomycin, and vancomycin; inhibitors for protein biosynthesis such as tetracyclibnes, macrolides, aminoglycoside antibiotics; inhibitors for DNA synthesis such as 4-quinolones; inhibitors ...

What are the types of antimicrobial agents?

The main classes of antimicrobial agents are disinfectants (non-selective agents, such as bleach), which kill a wide range of microbes on non-living surfaces to prevent the spread of illness, antiseptics (which are applied to living tissue and help reduce infection during surgery), and antibiotics (which destroy ...