Chap 7 Flashcards
(138 cards)
Sepsis
refers to bacterial contamination
Asepsis
absence of significant contamination
Aseptic surgery techniques
prevent the microbial contamination of wounds
Sterilization
removing and destroying all microbial life
Commercial sterilization
killing Clostridium botulinum endospores from canned goods
Disinfection
destroying harmful microorganisms
Antisepsis
destroying harmful microorganisms from living tissue
Degerming
the mechanical removal of microbes from a limited area
Sanitization
lowering microbial counts on eating utensils to safe levels
Biocide (germicide):
treatments that kill microbes
Bacteriostasis:
inhibiting, not killing, microbes
The usual definition of sterilization is the removal or destruction of all forms of microbial life; how could there be practical exceptions to this simple definition?
Disinfectants and Antiseptics do not kill or remove all bacteria and viruses. Prions and endospores have a high resistance to all forms of sterilization; sterilization implies to the absence of prions.
Effectiveness of treatment depends on
- Number of microbes
- Environment (organic matter, temperature, biofilms)
- Time of exposure
- Microbial characteristics
If the rate of killing is the same, how long will it take to kill all the members of a larger population compared to a smaller population
It will take longer to kill all members of a larger population than a smaller population
How is it possible that a solution containing a million bacteria would take longer to sterilize than one containing a half-million bacteria?
A larger number of bacteria will require more time to be completely killed, as the process of sterilization is a slow one.
Actions of Microbial Control Agents
- Alteration of membrane permeability
- Damage to proteins (enzymes)
- Damage to nucleic acids
Would a chemical microbial control agent that affects plasma membranes affect humans?
A microbial agent that targets the plasma membrane of the microorganism would not be advised because humans also have a plasma membrane.
Thermal death point (T D P):
lowest temperature at which all cells in a liquid culture are killed in 10 min
Thermal death time (T D T):
minimal time for all bacteria in a liquid culture to be killed at a particular temperature
Decimal reduction time (D R T)
Minutes to kill 90% of a specific population of bacteria at a given temperature
What does moist heat sterilization do?
Moist heat coagulates/denatures proteins
Moist heat sterilization involves
- Boiling
- Free-flowing steam
Autoclave
steam under pressure
How does autoclave sterilization work?
- 121 C at 15 psi for 15 min
2.Kills all organisms and endospores - Steam must contact the item’s surface