Chapter 8 – Infection Control

Question 1

Contamination

Answer 1

The presence of non-resident microbes on or in an object/person.

Question 2

Sepsis

Answer 2

A dysregulated and exaggerated response to bacterial infection, leading to compromised organ function and potential organ failure.

Question 3

Antisepsis

Answer 3

The use of physical/chemical means to remove microorganisms from tissue.

Question 4

Sterilization

Answer 4

The complete elimination of all infectious particles, including bacterial spores.

Question 5

Disinfection

Answer 5

The removal of vegetative bacteria from an object or tissue.

Question 6

Sanitization

Answer 6

General cleansing of an object to reduce the load of microorganisms.

Question 7

Degermation

Answer 7

Reduction of microorganisms.

Question 8

Pasteurization

Answer 8

Application of heat to destroy food-borne vegetative bacteria while preserving food quality.

Question 9

Microbistasis

Answer 9

The slowing of microbial growth, through cooling.

Question 10

Bacteriostasis

Answer 10

Inhibition of bacteiral growth.

Question 11

Fungistasis

Answer 11

Inhibition of fungal growth.

Question 12

Microbicides

Answer 12

Methods that destroy all forms of microbes.

Question 13

Bacteriocidal

Answer 13

Techniques that kill bacteria.

Question 14

Virucidal

Answer 14

Techniques that kill viruses.

Question 15

Fungicidal

Answer 15

Techniques that kill fungi.

Question 16

Sporicidal

Answer 16

Techniques that kill bacterial spores.

Question 17

Autoclave

Answer 17

A high-pressure cooker used to sterilize instruments, equipment, and reagents through high-pressure steam treatment.

Question 18

What is the primary factor that determines a microbes ability to survive outside of living tissue?

Answer 18

Adaptation to ecological niches and environmental conditions.

Question 19

Which microbe persists in harsh conditions?

Answer 19

Bacterial endospores.

Question 20

What environments can bacterial endospores withstand?

Answer 20

Arid environments, high and low temperatures, high pressure, caustic chemicals.

Question 21

What is the goal of infection control in clinical settings?

Answer 21

To reduce the risk of contamination by potential pathogens.

Question 22

Why is infection control challenging in modern healthcare?

Answer 22

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains.

Question 23

What strategies are implemented to limit microbial exposure?

Answer 23

1. Protocols
2. Infection Control Procedures

Question 24

How does antimicrobial treatment support infection control?

Answer 24

It reduces the microbial load in infected individuals and lowers the risk of transmission to others.

Question 25

What are the two main methods used to prevent microbial contamination?

Answer 25

1. Physical Methods 2. Chemical Methods

Question 26

What is the purpose of using physical/chemical methods in high-risk settings?

Answer 26

To reduce the microbial load on surface, reagents, and equipment.

Question 27

What are some environments where contamination prevention methods are crucial?

Answer 27

1. Surgical Sites 2. High-Risk Clinical Settings

Question 28

What is the primary purpose of filtration in infection control?

Answer 28

To physically separate microbes from fluids, such as air or liquids.

Question 29

What is an example of filtration used by clinical personnel?

Answer 29

Wearing surgical masks.

Question 30

What does a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter do?

Answer 30

Acts as a physical sieve to block particles larger than 0.3 μm.

Question 31

Where are HEPA filters commonly used?

Answer 31

Laminar flow hoods, patient rooms, areas where airborne microbes must be eliminated.

Question 32

How do some advanced filtration systems capture microbes?

Answer 32

By using charged and chemically adherent materials.

Question 33

Why is liquid filtration not considered a sterilization technique?

Answer 33

It doesn't eliminate all microbes.

Question 34

What are the two main ways temperature is used for microbial control?

Answer 34

Heat induces microbial destruction, while cold slows or arrests microbial proliferation and metabolism.

Question 35

What device is used to destroy bacterial endospores through high-pressure steam over 100°C?

Answer 35

An autoclave used 121°C at 15 psi for 15 minutes.

Question 36

What is the purpose of pasteirozation?

Answer 36

To reduce bacterial load in food while preserving flavour and consistency.

Question 37

What heat method is used to destroy biological tissue and contaminated materials?

Answer 37

Incineration (800°C to 6500°C).

Question 38

Why can cold temperatures not be used for sterilization?

Answer 38

It only slows microbial metabolism but does not kill microbes.

Question 39

What are the two types of radiation used for microbial decontamination?

Answer 39

1. Ionizing Radiation 2. Non-Ionizing Radiation

Question 40

How does ionizing radiation kill microbes?

Answer 40

It displaces electrons, leading to the formation of reactive ions that disrupt biological molecules, including DNA (e.g., Gamma, X-Rays).

Question 41

How does non-ionizing radiation reduce microbial growth?

Answer 41

It damages DNA, preventing microbial proliferation (e.g., UV Light).

Question 42

What are the two most commonly used alcohols for microbial control?

Answer 42

1. Ethanol 2. Isopropanol

Question 43

How do alcohols kill microbes?

Answer 43

By disrupting cell membranes and denaturing proteins.

Question 44

Which halogens are used as germicides?

Answer 44

1. Chlorine 2. Iodine

Question 45

How does chlorine kill microbes?

Answer 45

By denaturing proteins and disrupting microbial metabolism.

Question 46

How does iodine kill microbes?

Answer 46

Forms iodophors to disinfect wounds and preparing for surgical incisions.

Question 47

How do heavy metals, like silver and mercury, kill microbes?

Answer 47

By forming metal ion complexes with microbial proteins, leading to protein inactivation.

Question 48

What is the major disadvantage of using heavy metals as germicides?

Answer 48

They are highly toxic to humans and the environment and can lead to metal-resistant bacterial strains.

Question 49

What are phenolics?

Answer 49

Chemical derivatives of phenol with a range of microbicidal and toxic effects.

Question 50

How does hydrogen peroxide kill microbes?

Answer 50

By generating oxygen free radicals that damage cells.

Question 51

What is ozone used for in microbial control?

Answer 51

Disinfection of air, water systems, and hospital equipment.

Question 52

How do soaps and detergents reduce microbial load?

Answer 52

Soaps emulsify and physically reduce microbes, while detergents disrupt cell membranes.

Question 53

What are antimicrobial drugs and how do they work?

Answer 53

They target and destroy infectious agents by interfering with cell division or weakening and destroying them.

Question 54

What drug-resistant microbes are major public health concerns?

Answer 54

1. Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter 2. Candida Auris 3. Clostridioides Difficile 4. Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae 5. Drug-Resistant Neisseria Gonorrhoeae

Question 55

What is the difference between bactericidal and bacteriostatic drugs?

Answer 55

Bactericidal drugs kill bacteria by interfering with the cell wall or cell contents, while bacteriostatic drugs prevent bacterial multiplication by disrupting protein synthesis, DNA replication, or metabolism.

Question 56

What is the advantage of using narrow-spectrum antibacterial drugs (e.g., Penicillin, Bacitracin)?

Answer 56

They limit the disruption of the natural microbiome and can target specific organs or tracts.

Question 57

Name a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against many types of organisms.

Answer 57

The tetracycline family.

Question 58

What is the objective of antiviral treatment?

Answer 58

To limit the scope of infection and reduce the infectivity of the population.

Question 59

How do antiviral drugs work against viruses?

Answer 59

They interfere with viral processes such as receptor binding, host cell entry, replication, and exit, allowing the immune system to neutralize the virus.

Question 60

What are fungal infections called?

Answer 60

Mycoses.

Question 61

What are some common fungal infections?

Answer 61

Skin and Vaginal Infections, often caused by Candida Albicans.

Question 62

What is the most commonly used antiprotozoal drug?

Answer 62

Metronidazole, used for amoebic infections, giardia, and trichiomonas infections.

Question 63

What is the term for anti-fungal drugs?

Answer 63

Antimycotics (e.g., Macrolide, Polyenes, Synthetic Azoles, Flucytosine).

Question 64

What are antihelminthics?

Answer 64

Medications used to treat flukes, tapeworms, and roundworms.

Question 65

What does piperazine and pyrantel do?

Answer 65

Immobilize worms by causing paralysis of the muscles, causing them to release their grip on the intestinal wall and be expelled in feces.

Question 66

What does medendazole and thiobendazole do?

Answer 66

Disable live worms, and kill eggs and larvae.