Sterilisation Flashcards
How do pathogens harm the patient?
Cause infectious disease
How do microbes damage a product?
Degrade API, make dose unpalatable
Which routes of administration have the greatest and least infection hazards?
- Parenteral has the greatest risk
- Then cream (skin is sensitive)
- Oral has the least risk - stomach acid kills bacteria
Which order is microbe growth?
First order = logarithmic
What does CFU stand for?
Colony forming unit = 1 live microbe
What is Decimal Reduction Time (D)?
Time taken for a 10x reduction in microbes (i.e. 90% reduction in concentration)
What is the sterility assurance level (SAL)?
- Level of sterility required for terminally sterilised products = 10-6
- Therefore the probability of an item being non-sterile if selected at random should be 1 in 1,000,000
How is sterilisation time for an item decided?
Based on decimal kill rate (D) value
How is sterility tested?
- Take a sample from the item (swab, liquid or filtrate)
- Add to culture medium
- If no growth after 14 days = non-sterile
Define: Sterilsation
Totally killing all microbes on product/item
Define: Sanitisation
Cleaning a surface
What does a disinfectant do?
Kills microbes on a surface
What does an antiseptic do?
Kills microbes on skin/tissue
What does a microbicide do?
Kills microbes
What does a bacteriostatic drug do?
Stops growth of bacteria
List 2 methods by which heat is used as a sterilisation technique?
- Steam
- Dry heat