Antiseptics and Disinfectants Flashcards
Disinfection
The destruction of pathogenic microorganisms
What are infections acquired during a period of hospitalization?
Nosocomial infections
Why are Pseudomonas infections difficult to get rid of?
Highly resistant to disinfection & antiseptics due to their ability to produce and immerse in a biofilm
Antiseptics
Chemical agents that kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms on living tissues
Disinfectants
Chemical agents that kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms on inanimate objects
Antiseptics or Disinfectants are used on living tissues?
Antiseptics
Antiseptics or Disinfectants are used on inanimate objects
Disinfectants
What bacteria are usually very susceptible to disinfectants or antiseptics & therefore could be killed by low-level disinfectants?
Vegetative bacteria
Enveloped viruses
What bacteria are usually very susceptible to disinfectants or antiseptics & therefore could be killed by low-level disinfectants?
Vegetative bacteria
Enveloped viruses
What are vegetative bacteria?
Actively growing bacteria, not in a spore state
What are enveloped viruses?
Viruses surrounded by a thin, phospholipid/protein envelope used to enter a host cell
What are examples of enveloped viruses?
Canine distemper virus (paramyxovirus) Feline herpesvirus Rabies Influenza virus Poxvirus
What are all difficult to kill and would require high-level disinfectants
Nonenveloped viruses
Bacteria or fungi in their spore form
Protozoal oocysts
What are non-enveloped viruses
Naked virus core without a lipid envelope
What are examples of non-enveloped viruses?
Canine Parvovirus
Feline panleukopenia virus
Feline calicivirus
Papillomavirus
What does the difference between sanitizers and sterilizers refer to?
The degree of microbial destruction achieved
What are chemical agents and Reduce the # of microorganisms to a “safe” level without eliminating all microorganisms
Sanitizers
What do most disinfectants and antiseptics tend to be?
Sanitizers
What reduces the number of microorganisms to a “safe” level without eliminating all microorganisms and is only attained on inanimate objects?
Sterilizers
What are many household cleaning products advertised as and is any chemical agent that kills microorganisms?
Germicides
What kills bacteria?
Bactericidal
What chemicals kill viruses?
Virucidal
What chemicals kill fungi?
Fungicidal
What chemicals kill protozoa?
Protozoacidal
What chemicals kill microbial spores?
Sporicidal
Disinfectants need to be what rather than what?
Microbicidal rather than microbiostatic
What is capable of killing the pathogen when it is in its resistant or dormant state?
Sporicidals
What are many disinfectants and antiseptics inactivated by?
Organic material
What must be used before the application of the disinfectant?
Cleansers
What are cleansers?
Detergents or surfactants
What are cleansers, soaps, and detergents classified as?
Anionic
Cationic
Nonionic
What are anionic cleansers, work well to liquify or solubilize dirt, fat, and microorganism membranes so they can be washed away?
Common soaps
Why must a cleansed site be rinsed thoroughly?
Otherwise, the organic material will remain at the site and potentially interfere with the disinfectant that is applied after cleaning
Why are cationic soaps and detergents less recommended for use?
Because they combine readily with proteins, fats, and phosphates and will be easily inactivated by the presence of serum, blood, and tissue debris
What is an example of a cationic cleanser and is used more like a disinfectant than a cleanser and must be applied to a surface that has been thoroughly cleaned?
Quaternary ammonium
After a thorough cleansing and rinsing, environmental surfaces should be allowed to what?
Dry thoroughly
When should the disinfectant be applied?
After cleaning and rinsing
The ideal disinfecting agent should be what?
Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity
Nonirritating and nontoxic to animal and human tissue
Easily applied to inanimate objects and without causing corrosion or stains
Stable and not easily inactivated
Inexpensive
