1.
antibacterial drug; antibiotic medication
A medication used to treat bacterial infections by killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria. The standard medical term in Japanese for what is commonly called an antibiotic.
医師に抗菌薬を処方された。
I was prescribed an antibacterial drug by the doctor.
抗菌薬は最後まで飲みきることが大切だ。
It's important to finish the full course of antibiotics.
抗菌薬の乱用は耐性菌を生む原因になるので、必要な場合だけ使うべきだ。
Overuse of antibiotics causes antibiotic-resistant bacteria, so they should only be used when necessary.
Composed of 抗 (anti-, against), 菌 (bacteria, germs), and 薬 (medicine, drug). The formal medical term for antibacterial medications.
In everyday Japanese, 抗生物質 (antibiotic, literally "anti-life substance") or the loanword アンチバイオティクス is more commonly used by laypeople, while 抗菌薬 is preferred in medical and pharmaceutical contexts. Note that 抗菌薬 specifically targets bacteria, whereas 抗生物質 can sometimes refer more broadly to include antifungals.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 抗菌薬を処方する: to prescribe antibiotics
- 抗菌薬を投与する: to administer antibiotics
- 抗菌薬の耐性: antibiotic resistance
- 広域抗菌薬: broad-spectrum antibiotic
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 抗生物質: antibiotic — the more commonly known term in everyday language
- 殺菌剤: germicide, disinfectant — kills bacteria but used externally, not as a systemic medication
- 抗ウイルス{薬}: antiviral drug — targets viruses, not bacteria