Which drug class is specifically designed to kill pathogens?

The drug class that is specifically designed to kill pathogens is antibiotics. Antibiotics are specifically developed to combat bacterial infections by either killing bacteria or inhibiting their growth and reproduction. These medications are effective against a variety of bacterial strains and are commonly used to treat infections such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia, among others.

While antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic medications also target pathogens, they do so in different contexts. Antivirals are designed to inhibit the replication of viruses, antifungals target fungi, and antiparasitics focus on parasites. Each of these classes addresses specific types of pathogens rather than broadly targeting bacteria, making antibiotics the correct answer when referring to drugs that are explicitly designed to kill pathogens in a bacterial context.