What term is used to define a medication that kills or stops the growth of bacteria in the body?

The term used to define a medication that kills or stops the growth of bacteria in the body is "antibiotic." Antibiotics are a specific class of medication that target bacterial infections by either destroying bacteria or inhibiting their reproduction. This mechanism helps to treat infections caused by bacteria, including conditions such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, and bacterial pneumonia.

Antivirals, by contrast, are medications that specifically target viral infections, making them ineffective against bacterial infections. Analgesics are medications that relieve pain but have no effect on bacterial growth. Antiseptics are substances that reduce or prevent infection by killing or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms on external surfaces, but they are not typically used to treat internal infections in the body. Thus, antibiotics are uniquely positioned as the treatment for bacterial infections.