Chapter 11 - Disinfectants and Antiseptics Flashcards

1
Q

Disinfection

A

Destruction of pathogenic microorganisms

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2
Q

Hospital associated infection

A

Originating within the teaching hospital

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3
Q

Nosocomial Infections

A

Infections acquired during a period of hospitalization - they are especially hard to control.

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4
Q

Biofilm

A

Generated by bacteria when they attach to a surface and develop a glycocalyx (material made of protein, DNA, and polysaccharides) “shell” around themselves in which the bacteria can proliferate protected from the disinfecting agents

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5
Q

List some common sites for creation of biofilm or nosocomial infections

A
Urinary tract
Respiratory tract
Surgical sites
Wounds
IV catheter insertion sites
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6
Q

Antiseptics

A

Chemical agents that kill or prevent growth of microorganisms on living tissues

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7
Q

Disinfectants

A

Chemical agents that kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms on inanimate objects

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8
Q

Vegetative bacteria

A

Actively growing bacteria not in a spore state

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9
Q

Enveloped viruses

A

Viruses surrounded by a thin, phospholipid/protein envelope used to enter a host cell

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10
Q

High-level, Intermediate-level, Low-level disinfectants

A

Designation that generally refers to the ability of the disinfectant to kill pathogens with different levels of susceptibility

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11
Q

Does the envelope around an enveloped virus protect the virus?

A

No - it is an essential component of the virus and is readily disrupted by detergents and disinfectants

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12
Q

List some enveloped viruses

A
Canine distemper virus
Feline herpes virus
Rabies
Influenza virus
Poxviruses
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13
Q

Nonenveloped viruses

A

“naked” virus core without a surrounding lipid envelope

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14
Q

Spore form

A

Refractile, oval body formed within bacteria regarded as a resting stage during the life history of the cell - characterized by resistance to environmental change

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15
Q

Protozoal oocysts

A

Cyst containing the zygote of the protozoan parasite

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16
Q

Sanitizers

A

Chemical agents that reduce the number of microorganisms to a “safe” level without eliminating all microorganisms

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17
Q

Sterilizers

A

Chemicals or other agents that destroy all microorganisms

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18
Q

Can sterilization be achieved on living things?

A

No - only inanimate objects

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19
Q

Germicides

A

Any chemical agent that kills microorganisms (this includes viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi) so they are not used in veterinary medicine because it is too nonspecific

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20
Q

Bactericidal

A

Chemical kills bacteria

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21
Q

Virucidal

A

Chemical kills viruses

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22
Q

Fungicidal

A

Chemical kills fungi

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23
Q

Protozoacidal

A

Chemical kills protozoa

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24
Q

Sporicidal

A

Chemical kills microbial spores when it is in its resistant or dormant state

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25
Q

Can disinfectants be microbiostatic?

A

NO. They need to microbicidal because inanimate objects do not have an immune system to eliminate organisms not killed

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26
Q

What microorganisms can live in two forms: Vegetative and spore forms?

A

Bacteria

Fungi

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27
Q

When a microorganism switches from spore form to vegetative form what happens?

A

Spore forms survive in a dormant state for years to decades so that under appropriate growing conditions they can switch back to vegetative form and begin multiplying again

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28
Q

What is an absolutely necessary step in disinfection that is often ignored?

A

Surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned with soap and rinsed to remove organic material and debris and allowed to dry before application of disinfectant

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29
Q

Cleansers

A

Detergents or surfactants - used before application of disinfectant to remove organic material

30
Q

Cleansers are classified into 3 groups

A

Anionic
Cationic
Nonionic

31
Q

Solubilizing

A

Dissolving

32
Q

What are the 5 characteristics of an ideal disinfecting agent

A

1) Broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity
2) Nonirritating and nontoxic to animal/human tissue
3) Easily applied to inanimate objects and without causing corrosion or stains
4) Stable and not easily inactivated
5) Inexpensive

33
Q

Alcohols

A

Most commonly used as part of aseptic technique (surgical sites)
Acts by solubilizing lipid membranes and by denaturing proteins

34
Q

At what concentrations are alcohols most effective at?

A

70-90%
Alcohols above 95% do not contain enough water needed to effectively denature the proteins of the pathogen and produce disinfection

35
Q

What are the 2 alcohols commonly used?

A

Isopropyl

Ethyl

36
Q

Coagulum

A

Applying alcohol to open wounds - which usually contain serum exudate (rich in protein) - alcohol denatures the structure of this protein, causing it to form a superficial barrier which may seal in or protect underlying bacteria, preventing topical disinfectants from reaching the organisms- infection could then spread to underlying tissues

37
Q

Halogens (chlorine compounds)

A

Intermediate-level disinfectant - can kill vegetative forms of bacteria, algae, fungi and both enveloped and nonenveloped viruses

38
Q

What is Halogens (chlorine compounds) mechanism of action?

A

Chlorine ions liberated from the disinfecting compounds kill pathogens by denaturing protein structure and chemically inactivating essential enzyme systems needed by the pathogen

39
Q

Halogens (iodine compounds/iodophors)

A

Most commonly used as topical antiseptics before surgical procedures or for aseptic disinfection of tissue

40
Q

What is Halogens (iodine compounds/iodophors) mechanism of action?

A

Bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal, and sporicidal because of the free iodine which diffuses into the pathogen cell and disrupts metabolism and protein structure and synthesis

41
Q

What are halogen iodine compounds known to be topically effective against?

A

Dermatophytes that cause Ringworm

42
Q

Halogens (both types) are inactivated by organic material, especially blood, but which compound better maintains its antiseptic activity in the presence of organic material?

A

Iodine compounds/ Ionophors

43
Q

Iodophors

A

Combination of molecular iodine and a carrier molecule that releases the iodine over time, prolonging the antimicrobial activity

44
Q

Iodophors combined with detergent or nonionic surfactants are commonly known as what?

A

Surgical scrubs

45
Q

Why should high levels of iodine be avoided on denuded skin?

A

Potential for irritation and systemic absorption of iodine

46
Q

Biguanides

A

Chlorhexidine, nolvasan, virosan, hibistat

47
Q

Chlorhexidine

A

Works by damaging the cell membrane of the pathogen, lysing the cell. One of the most commonly used disinfectant and antiseptic compounds used in vet med

48
Q

What preparation of chlorhexidine should be avoided for use in animals?

A

Otic solution - Ototoxic if exposed to the middle ear

49
Q

Aldehydes

A

Glutaraldehyde

50
Q

Glutaraldehyde

A

High level disinfecting chemical sterilizer with a wide spectrum of activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and bacterial spores (chemically related to formaldehyde)

51
Q

What is Glutataldehyde’s main use?

A

Disinfecting equipment that cannot be heat sterilized - also widely used to cold-sterilize clinical instruments

52
Q

Glutaraldehydes mechanism of action

A

Penetrates biofilm and reach the bacteria, and cause the bacterial colony to detach from the surface of the instrument and be flushed away

53
Q

What are 2 things that must be maintained to keep glutaraldehyde working appropriately?

A

1) Must be kept at room temperature

2) pH must be neutral to alkaline

54
Q

Oxidizing compound (Hydrogen peroxide)

A

Work primarily by denaturing proteins and lipids of microorganisms (and can potentially have the same effect on mammalian cells)

55
Q

Why should hydrogen peroxide should not be used on tissue?

A

Can potentially damage tissue that is healthy or marginally viable

56
Q

Accelerated Hydrogen peroxide products

A

Contain lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (0.5%), surfactants to break down surface tension of water and allow penetration, wetting agents that allow liquids to spread out over a surface and a chelator

57
Q

Peroxymonosulfate

A

Oxidizing agent that has been used to disinfect pools and hot tubs

58
Q

Potassium Peroxymonosulfate (PPMS)

A

Trifectant. Mixed with surfactant, organic acids, and buffers in a dry tablet form to be dissolved in water. Virucidal (including nonenveloped) bactericidal, fungicidal - even in the presence of hard water and organic materials

59
Q

Phenols

A

Effective against gram-positive bacteria

60
Q

What common household product is a phenol?

A

Lysol

61
Q

What major side effect can occur from ingestion of phenols?

A

Sever liver damage

62
Q

Triclosan

A

Phenol that has been incorporated into a variety of soaps, disinfectants, deodorants, shampoos, medical supplies, and even some plastics to decrease bacterial growth

63
Q

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

A

“Quats” cleansing agents (cationic surfactants) with germicidal activity - used in vet med to disinfect surfaces of floors, walls, and vehicles utilized in livestock and egg-laying operations

64
Q

Why are quats not used as antiseptic agents?

A

Active ingredients bind to gauze and cotton commonly used to apply antiseptics - CDC no longer recommends them as antiseptics

65
Q

What is the major quaternary ammonium compound used in vet med?

A

Benzalkonium chloride - key ingredient in the disinfectant Roccal D

66
Q

What are Quats effective against?

A

Gram-positive bacteria + enveloped viruses

67
Q

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and Tris buffer

A

Two products that can be compounded and used together to irrigate ear infections, wounds, or fistulas infected with Pseudomonas

68
Q

Acetic Acid

A

0.25% solution to kill Pseudomonas organisms and a variety of other gram positive and negative bacteria. Vinegar solution is primarily acetic acid. Sometimes used for otitis externa

69
Q

Povidone-Iodine

A

Most common Iodophor

70
Q

Sodium hypochlorite

A

Chlorine compound (NaOCl) found in common inexpensive household bleach and often referred to as its proprietary name Clorox

71
Q

What occurs if chlorine is mixed with other acidic cleaners?

A

Generates toxic amounts of chlorine gas

72
Q

What occurs if chlorine is mixed with ammonia-containing compounds?

A

Produces a very poisonous gas called Chloramine