Bacteriostatic antibiotics hamper the growth of bacteria by

1. interfering with bacteria protein production,
2. interfering with bacteria DNA production
3. interfering with bacteria cellular metabolism

Bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit growth while bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria.

Bacteriostatic agents must work with the immune system to remove the microorganisms from the body. High concentrations of most bacteriostatic agents are also bactericidal, whereas low concentrations of bactericidal agents are only bacteriostatic.

This group includes the tetracyclines, sulphonamides, trimethoprim, chloramphenicol, macrolides and lincosamides.