What it means
The broad group that includes antibiotican-tee-by-OT-ikA drug that kills bacteria or stops them from growing.anti- againstbi/o life-ic relating toFull entry (against bacteria), antiviralan-tee-VY-rulA drug that treats or prevents infection by a virus, usually by stopping the virus from making copies of itself.anti- againstvir virus-al relating toFull entry , antifungalan-tee-FUNG-gulA drug that kills fungi or stops them from growing, used to treat fungal infections.anti- againstfung/i fungus-al relating toFull entry and drugs against parasites. Choosing the right one depends on the germ, which is why cultures are taken before the first dose when possible.
For the nurse
Collect ordered cultures before the first dose, ask about allergies, give doses on time to keep blood levels steady, and teach the client to finish the full course.
At a glance
| Drug class | anti-infective |
|---|---|
| Also written | anti-infectives |
Related terms
antibiotic
A drug that kills bacteria or stops them from growing.
antiviral
A drug that treats or prevents infection by a virus, usually by stopping the virus from making copies of itself.
antifungal
A drug that kills fungi or stops them from growing, used to treat fungal infections.