Bacteriostatic and bactericidal antibiotics can be distinguished by their mechanisms of action. Bacteriostatic antibiotics prevent bacterial growth but do not necessarily kill bacteria. They work by interfering with bacterial protein production, DNA replication, or metabolism. This allows the immune system to remove bacteria. Bactericidal antibiotics directly kill bacteria through mechanisms like inhibiting cell wall synthesis or bacterial enzymes. Examples of bacteriostatic antibiotics include tetracyclines and macrolides, while penicillins and vancomycin are bactericidal. Precise distinctions can be difficult as high concentrations of some bacteriostatic antibiotics may also be bactericidal.