Chapter 11 - Disinfectants and Antiseptics Flashcards
Disinfection
Destruction of pathogenic microorganisms
Hospital associated infection
Originating within the teaching hospital
Nosocomial Infections
Infections acquired during a period of hospitalization - they are especially hard to control.
Biofilm
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
List some common sites for creation of biofilm or nosocomial infections
Urinary tract Respiratory tract Surgical sites Wounds IV catheter insertion sites
Antiseptics
Chemical agents that kill or prevent growth of microorganisms on living tissues
Disinfectants
Chemical agents that kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms on inanimate objects
Vegetative bacteria
Actively growing bacteria not in a spore state
Enveloped viruses
Viruses surrounded by a thin, phospholipid/protein envelope used to enter a host cell
High-level, Intermediate-level, Low-level disinfectants
Designation that generally refers to the ability of the disinfectant to kill pathogens with different levels of susceptibility
Does the envelope around an enveloped virus protect the virus?
No - it is an essential component of the virus and is readily disrupted by detergents and disinfectants
List some enveloped viruses
Canine distemper virus Feline herpes virus Rabies Influenza virus Poxviruses
Nonenveloped viruses
“naked” virus core without a surrounding lipid envelope
Spore form
Refractile, oval body formed within bacteria regarded as a resting stage during the life history of the cell - characterized by resistance to environmental change
Protozoal oocysts
Cyst containing the zygote of the protozoan parasite
Sanitizers
Chemical agents that reduce the number of microorganisms to a “safe” level without eliminating all microorganisms
Sterilizers
Chemicals or other agents that destroy all microorganisms
Can sterilization be achieved on living things?
No - only inanimate objects
Germicides
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
Bactericidal
Chemical kills bacteria
Virucidal
Chemical kills viruses
Fungicidal
Chemical kills fungi
Protozoacidal
Chemical kills protozoa
Sporicidal
Chemical kills microbial spores when it is in its resistant or dormant state
Can disinfectants be microbiostatic?
NO. They need to microbicidal because inanimate objects do not have an immune system to eliminate organisms not killed
What microorganisms can live in two forms: Vegetative and spore forms?
Bacteria
Fungi
When a microorganism switches from spore form to vegetative form what happens?
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
What is an absolutely necessary step in disinfection that is often ignored?
Surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned with soap and rinsed to remove organic material and debris and allowed to dry before application of disinfectant