What does a bacteriostatic substance do?

A bacteriostatic substance is designed to inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria without necessarily killing them outright. This action allows the body's immune system to more effectively combat the bacterial infection. By stopping bacteria from multiplying, bacteriostatic agents can help control the population of bacteria, allowing time for the immune response to manage the infection.

While other options involve different mechanisms or targets, such as killing bacteria, destroying fungal spores, or cleaning surfaces, they do not define the specific action of bacteriostatic substances. The crucial distinction is that while bacteriostatic agents impede bacterial growth, they do not kill the bacteria, which is why the correct answer highlights their role in inhibition rather than destruction.