CHAPTER 9/10 Flashcards
Sterilization
process that destroys or removes all viable microorganisms (including viruses)
common Examples of sterilizing agents
heat (autoclave)
sterilant (chemical agents capable of destroying endospheres)
disinfection
physical process or chemical agent to destroy vegetative pathogens but not bacterial endospheres
removes harmful products of microorganisms (toxins) from material
common examples of disinfecting agents
bleach
iodine
heat (boiling)
decontamination/sanitization
cleansing technique that mechanically removes microorganism as well as other debris to reduce contamination to safe levels
common examples of decontaminating agents
soap
detergent
commercial dish washers
antisepsis/degermation
reduces the number of microbes on the human skin
form of decontamination but on living tissues
common examples of antiseptic agents
alcohol
surgical hand scrubs
what can be sterilized
surgical instruments
syringes
commercially packaged food
what can be disinfected
boiling food utensils, applying 5% bleach solution to an examining table, immersing thermometers in an iodine solution between uses
what can be decontaminated
cooking utensils, dishes, bottles and cans
what can go thru antisepsis
involves scrubbing the skin (mechanical friction) or immersing it in chemicals
sepsis vs asepsis
Sepsis- presence of pathogens in tissue, causing infection
asepsis- practice of preventing contamination by pathogens
when is an antiseptic used
to inhibit microbial growth on tissues and works by reducing microbial load without eradication
T/F: prions are able to be destroyed by any of the four methods we talked about
FALSE. None are enough.
why must sterilant destroy endospheres
endospheres are highly resistant dominant forms of bacteria that survive harsh environmental condition, including extreme heat, radiation and chemical exposure
difference between sterilization, disinfection and decontamination
sterilization- removes 100% of all microorganisms, including endospheres
disinfection- removes 99.9% of microorganisms. not very effective vs. endospheres.
decontamination- 90-99.9% reduction in microbial load. does not completely eliminate.
the difference between scrubbing in chemicals or placing skin in chemicals as
forms of antisepsis/degermation
scrubbing- combines physical removal with chemical disinfection, generally achieving a high level of cleaniless
placing in chemicals- relies solely on the chemical’s effectiveness to kill microbes, providing rapid antisepsis but without physical removal of contaminants