Sterilization Flashcards
What is sterilization?
complete killing of all forms of infection including spores.
How can sterilization be achieved?
nly by autoclaving where the sample to be sterilized at 15-pounds pressure for 15 minutes at 1200C
What is disinfection?
chemical treatment that kills vegetative organisms. However, spores are not killed by disinfection.
What are antiseptics?
Disinfectants that are safe to be used on skin
What are the classes of disinfectants?
Modification of lipids
Modification of microbe proteins
Modification of microbe DNA
What are the disinfectants that modify the lipid layer?
Alcohol
iodine
detergents (soap)
phenol compounds
What percentage of alcohol is best?
70% alcohol is better than 100%
What is used to clean the skin for preparing for blood cultures or implanting intravenous catheters?
Iodine
more effective than alcohol
What are phenol compounds used to disinfect?
lipids
proteins
cannot be used on the skin
What is hexacloraphene?
a phenol compound that is used in soaps but in limited usage because its neurotoxicity effects
What are disinfectants that alter proteins?
Chlorine iodine heavy metals hydrogen peroxide formealdehyde glutraaldehyde
What is hypochlorite?
Chloride compound used to sanitize sheets and hospital beds
Chloride (oxidizers that link sulfate grouos0
What is tincture?
iodine that used to disinfect hospital equipment. also contains 2% alcohol
also deactivates sulfhydryl
irritates skin so it has to be removed
What does heavy metals do?
mercury and silver inactivate sulfhydryl containing enzymes. Mercury is considered as most potent heavy metals with antiseptic properties.
What does hydogen peroxide do?
commonly used to clean the lenses and wash the wounds, also binds to the sulfur groups and inactivates sulfur containing enzymes.
some enzymes produce catalase to counter hydrogen peroxide
