What type of antibiotic is considered bacteriostatic?

Bacteriostatic antibiotics are those that inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria rather than killing them outright. Tetracycline is considered a classic example of a bacteriostatic antibiotic. It works by interfering with protein synthesis in bacteria, which effectively stops them from multiplying.

This mechanism allows the immune system to effectively clear the infection as the bacteria are not proliferating. In contrast, other antibiotics like amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and erythromycin are either bactericidal or have mechanisms that lead to the death of bacteria instead of merely inhibiting their growth. Hence, tetracycline's unique action of preventing bacterial growth distinguishes it as a bacteriostatic agent.