The present invention relates to an antimicrobial method of killing bacteria having a mannitol metabolic pathway by inhibition of a mannitol metabolism, a method of screening a mannitol metabolic inhibitor, and an antimicrobial composition and cosmetic material containing a mannitol metabolic inhibitor. More particularly, the present invention relates to an antimicrobial method targeted at mannitol dehydrogenase such as mannitol-1-phosphate-5-dehydrogenase (M1PDH), a method of screening an inhibitor, and a composition. Therefore, the antimicrobial method, antimicrobial composition, and cosmetic material which solve a problem of antibiotic resistance and have an excellent antimicrobial effect may be provided.
