Carolyn Bell Flashcards
Sterilisation
destruction/removal of all microorganisms and viruses in a material/on a object
Commercial sterlisation
product is free of viable microorganisms (including endospores) of public health significance as well as microorganisms capable of reproducing under normal conditions of storage and distribution
Sterilant
an agent used to sterlise material
Disinfection
the elimination of vegetative pathogenic microorganisms from inanimate surfaces
Disinfectant
A physical/chemical agent that kills or removes vegetative pathogens from inanimate surfaces
Antisepsis
Elimination of vegetative pathogenic microorganisms on living tissue
Antispetic
A chemical agent that kills/removes vegetative pathogens when applied to living tissue
Degerming
removal of microbes by mechanical means
Sanitization
reduction of microbial populations to a level considered safe by public health standards
Pasteurisation
Use of heat to destroy pathogens and reduce the number of spoilage microorganisms (increase shelf life)
-cide/-cidal
Agent that kills
-stasis/-static
Agent that inhibits growth
Minimum inhibitory concentration
the lowest concentration of an agent that will inhibit growth of a test organism
Minimum bactericidal concentration
the lowest concentration of an agent that kills the test organism
