L5 Chemical control methods Flashcards
define disinfectant
chemicals that are capable of killing microorganisms. CANNOT be applied to living tissue
uses of disinfectants
applied to inanimate surfaces in labs and in discard jars and buckets
define antiseptics
chemical agents that kill or inhibit growth of microorganisms that can be applied to living tissue
uses of antiseptics
cleaning areas on skin
define preservatives
prevents microbial spoilage of a product
uses for preservatives
in pharmaceutical preparations or food
5 conditions that influence the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents
population size properties of the chemical agent type of microbe environmental factors toxicity of the agent
what % of microbes will die every minute
90% of the population at the start of the minute
in regards to population size what is the time it takes to have microbial numbers at an acceptable level dependant on
the initial population
what is another factor that cnotribute to the time taken to have microbial numbers at an acceptable level
using PPE to reduce contamination
what two properties of chemical agents influence the effectiveness of the antimicrobial agent
dilution
pH
how does dilution impact the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent
some solutions are more effective when diluted
higher or lower than the recommended concentration can affect efficiency
how does pH impact the effectiveness of an anti-microbial agent
every chemical solution has an ideal pH at which it should be used
what is an example of a chemical that is more bactericidal when diluted with water
ethanol is more effective at 70%
at what pH is hypochlorite solution more effective
lower (acidic) pH
how does the type of microbe impact the effectiveness of an anti-microbial agent (6)
phase of growth
polymer, capsule or lipid production
altered cell wall or membrane or modified sensitive sites
cellular aggregations/biofilms
resistant structures
microbial interactions (competition, antagonism, mutualism)
how does the phase of growth impact the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent
bacteria in the log phase will take up chemicals from the environment faster than those in stationary phase
how do polymers, capsules and lipid production impact the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent
limits diffusion of chemicals into the cell wall
how does having an altered cell wall or membrane or modified sensitive sites impact the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent
reduced permeability and effectiveness of disinfectants
how do cellular aggregations/biofilms impact the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent
thick layer of bacteria so it is harder to reach the middle microbes (they are protected by the outer microbes)
how do resistant structures impact the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent
the release of chemicals triggers cells to produce endospores that are resistant to disinfectant
how do microbial interactions impact the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent
microbes are not found in a pure culture in the environment and these interactions impact the effectiveness
microbe of the day
mycobacterium tuberculosis
facts about mycobacterium tuberculosis
aerobic, bacillus
slow mean generation time = more resistant to disinfectant (decreased uptake of chemicals)
-waxy coating on cell surface = reduced permeability
resistant to desiccation and difficult to gram stain
most to least resistant bacteria to germicidal chemicals
endospores mycobacteria nonlipid or small viruses Funghi vegetative bacteria enveloped or medium-sized viruses
what environmental factors impact the effectiveness of disinfectants
neutralisation of organic material
temperature