Introduction to microbicides

1 1.1 Micro-organisms — microbicides

Antimicrobial substances will be referred to in this book as ‘microbicides’ in as far as they kill micro-organisms and as ‘microbistats’ in as far as they inhibit the muliplication of micro-organisms. Whether the action of a substance is microbicidal or microbistatic generally depends on the concentration at which the substance is used.

Microbicides belong to the biocides. ‘Biocide’ is a generic term which comprises among others microbicides, molluscicides, acaricides, insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides etc. On the other hand ‘microbicide’ is the generic term for bactericides, fungicides, algicides etc. The experts are fully conversant with these distinctions and take them for granted. Whenever appropriate, however, the same distinctions should be used more widely — not simply to prevent confusion, but also so that the general public is constantly reminded that modern active agents and those undergoing development are not intended to attack the...