In clinical medicine, several classes of antibiotics are classified as primarily bacteriostatic:

Most bacteriostatic antibiotics work by binding to bacterial ribosomes (like the 30S or 50S subunits), which prevents the cell from creating the proteins it needs to grow.

A (or bacteriostatic agent) is a substance that stops bacteria from reproducing without necessarily killing them. By keeping bacteria in a "stationary phase" of growth, these agents allow the host's immune system to naturally clear the remaining pathogens. 1. Key Mechanism of Action