Antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms, or inhibits their growth.

Antimicrobials can be either:

• Microbicidal, which kill microbes
• Microbiostatic, which inhibit their growth

Antimicrobials are grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily against, including:

• Antibacterials, against bacteria
• Antifungals, against fungi
• Antivirals, against virus
• Disinfectants, which kill a wide range of microbes on non-living surfaces nonselectively, to prevent spread of illness
• Antiseptics, which are applied to living tissue to help reduce infection, sepsis, or putrefaction (decomposition). Examples include Povidone-iodine (Betadine), Boric acid, Hiprex