What is a primary role of fungistatic agents?

Fungistatic agents are primarily designed to inhibit the growth of fungi rather than killing them outright. These agents work by interfering with key metabolic processes within fungal cells, which ultimately slows or halts their proliferation. This inhibition allows the host's immune system to gain an advantage in combating the fungal infection.

On the other hand, fungicidal agents are the ones that kill fungi. While the two terms are often confused, the key distinction is that fungistatic agents focus on growth inhibition rather than achieving immediate cell death. Promoting bacterial growth and preventing viral infections are not related to the primary function of fungistatic agents, as they specifically target fungi and do not have an impact on other types of microbes.