Bacteriostatic

Having the capacity to stop the growth of bacteria.

When a bacteriostatic compound is removed, bacterial growth resumes either immediately or after a certain time. Some compounds may be bacteriostatic at low concentrations but kill bacteria (bactericidal) at higher concentrations.

Clinical Relevance of Bacteriostatic versus Bactericidal Mechanisms of Action in the Treatment of Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections (Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2004)