C-6

Question 1

sterilization (when and why used? -cidal or -static)

Answer 1

The removal, death or deactivation of all microbes; remove microbes from surgical tools (i.e.) to prevent contamination in sterile environment or procedure; -cidal

Question 2

disinfection/disinfectant

Answer 2

the use of physical or chemical agents to inhibit growth or destroy microbes on inanimate objects and surfaces; cleaning countertops; mainly -static (doesn’t guarantee)

Question 3

antisepsis/antiseptic

Answer 3

When a chemical is used on skin or other tissue to remove and/or kill potentially harmful (pathogenic) microbes; prep skin for surgery; -static

Question 4

aseptic

Answer 4

An environment or
practice/procedure/technique that is free of
contamination by pathogens; sterile equipment to keep area sterile; not necessarily killing microbes -static

Question 5

sanitization

Answer 5

Cleansing technique that mechanically removes microbes to reduce the number of pathogenic microbes to safe levels as
determined by public health standards; cleaning equipment or dishes for reusing; mainly -static

Question 6

bactericidal vs bacteriostatic

Answer 6

destroy and kill microbe vs inhibiting growth

Question 7

dry heat (mechanism of killing, use, advantages, disadvantages, which category of microbial control they would fall under, –cidal or –static)

Answer 7

• burns proteins and membranes (denatures)
• a way to sterilize without getting moistening items that must stay dry
• requires higher heat for longer than moist heat (slower)
• form of sterilization; -cidal

Question 8

moist heat

Answer 8

• denatures proteins and destroys membranes
• boiling, autoclave, pasteurizing, high temp sterilization
• more effective than dry heat (quicker)
• both sterilizing and disinfecting depending on type (boiling is -cidal)

Question 9

low temperature

Answer 9

• refrigeration and freezing
• stops growth of most pathogens
• slow microbial metabolism and growth - liquid water not available at
  subzero temperatures, and membranes can freeze/become punctured by ice crystals
• some pathogens can survive this method
• form of disinfectant (-static)

Question 10

filtration

Answer 10

• sterilize materials that are heat-sensitive
• can remove pathogens from the air
• traps microbes and prevents them from contaminating liquids or air
• doesn’t kill microbes only traps them
• static

Question 11

osmotic pressure

Answer 11

• preserve food by using high salt or sugar concentrations to inhibit microbial growth
• cells in hypertonic solution lose water to inhibit metabolism that relies on water
• some fungi tolerate hypertonic more than bacteria
• static

Question 12

radiation (ionizing - gamma rays)

Answer 12

• sterilize things that can’t be autoclaved; to preserve food
• gamma rays emitted by X-rays
• destroys DNA by introducing double-stranded breaks; when the cell attempts to repair the DNA it can introduce mutations
• takes a long time and can’t penetrate iron or lead
• sterilization - cidal

Question 13

phenols

Answer 13

• antiseptic for surgery
• denatures proteins and disrupts cell walls
• smelly and triclosan was banned from households
• disinfectant or antiseptic use
• cidal

Question 14

alcohols

Answer 14

• denatures proteins and disrupts membranes
• depends on the presence of water for effectiveness
• not effective against fungal spores, endospores, or naked viruses and flammable
• antiseptic or disinfectant
• cidal

Question 15

halogens

Answer 15

• denatures proteins and enzymes by oxidizing them
• disinfect water or surfaces in water
• can be irritating to skin and toxic if absorbed
• disinfectant or antiseptic
• cidal

Question 16

oxidizers

Answer 16

• damage microbial proteins and DNA
• deep wounds, drinking water
• expensive, hydrogen peroxide can be broken down and not effective on open wounds
• antiseptic, disinfectant, sterilizer
• cidal

Question 17

surfactants/detergents/quats

Answer 17

• physically degerm objects and hands
• reduce surface tension of water which disrupts cell membranes
• doesn’t kill naked viruses, organic contaminants can deactivate quats
• antiseptic and disinfectant
• cidal

Question 18

heavy metals

Answer 18

• denatures proteins
• mouthwash, creams for burns
• toxic to human cells at high concentration
• antiseptic and disinfectant
• cidal

Question 19

aldehydes

Answer 19

• denatures proteins, cross-links nucleic acids
• preservation and sterilization -cidal
• irritating mucous membranes; more expensive; very smelly
• cidal
• disinfectant and sterilizer

Question 20

gaseous agents

Answer 20

• cross-link organic functional groups (denature protein)
• sterilizes difficult to reach or heat sensitive items (-cidal)
• highly explosive, extremely poisonous to humans, and carcinogenic

Question 21

enzymes

Answer 21

• denature proteins or cell components by lysing them
• antiseptic and disinfectant (-static)
• highly specific (disadvantage)

Question 22

antimicrobial drugs

Answer 22

• targets cell walls, membranes, protein synthesis
• controls microbes
• highly specific and microbes can become resistant (disadvantage)

Question 23

phenol coefficient test

Answer 23

• assesses the effectiveness of disinfectants and antiseptics
• compares the ability of another agent to control microbes

Question 24

in-use test

Answer 24

• samples are taken of equipment before and after application of disinfectant or antiseptic to compare
• swabs inoculated into growth media, incubated, and tested
• allows assessment of whether the strength of an agent is appropriate for its use