Sterilization, Disinfection, and Antisepsis Flashcards
What is a process that eliminates ALL forms of microbial life on inanimate objects?
Sterilization
What is a process that eliminates most pathogenic organisms except for spores?
Disinfection
What is a process that reduces the load of microorganisms on living skin and tissue?
Antisepsis
What is a process that removes debris, blood, proteins, and many microorganisms from a surface?
Decontamination
Pasteurization and liquid immersion in chemical sterilants are examples of what level of cleaning?
High-level disinfection
Hospital disinfectant with tuberculocidal activity is an example of what level of cleaning?
Intermediate-level disinfection
Hospital disinfectant with no tuberculocidal claim and which cannot destroy mycobacteria or spores is what level of cleaning?
Low-level disinfection
What kind of surfaces does a semicritical item come into contact with?
Mucous membranes and non-intact skin
Which kind of viruses have greater resistance to disinfectants: lipid-enveloped or non-enveloped?
Non-enveloped viruses
Which bacteria are more susceptible to disinfectants: Gram (+) or Gram (-)?
Gram (+) bacteria
Do autoclaving and pasteurization occur above or below 100C?
Autoclaving is >100C (pressurized); Pasteurization is below 100C
Mycobacterium and Salmonella are often found in what 3 products, which therefore undergo routine pasteurization?
Milk, Beer, Cider
How good is a N95 mask at filtering out particles with diameters > 3 micrometers?
95% efficient
What is a common physical method, besides radiation, for sterilizing heat-sensitive solutions?
Filtration
What is a common physical method for sterilizing disposable medical and dental supplies?
Ionizing Radiation
RBCs are often treated by what method in order to prevent leukocyte replication and graft-versus-host disease?
Ionizing Radiation
Which of the following chemical agents are antiseptics (used on living tissue/skin)? Alcohols, Chlorohexidine, Gluteraldehyde, Iodophors, Phenols, Phenolic Derivatives, Halogens, Heavy Metals, Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, and Ethylene Oxide
Alcohol, Chlorohexidine, Iodophors, Heavy Metals, and Phenolic Derivatives
How do iodophores compare to iodine in terms of release time and skin irritation?
Iodophores have longer release times and are less irritating
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are more efficient than hand washing for most microorganisms except what?
C. difficile
What two chemicals have mostly replaced formaldehyde for gas sterilization without heat?
Ethylene oxide and propylene oxide
What is the only liquid chemical sterilant (can kill spores, used for hospital instruments)?
Gluteraldehyde / Cidex
What are the chemical agents hexachlorophene (pHisoHex) and chlohexidine used for?
Disinfection of skin (ex. reduce Staph aureus load) and mucous membranes
Why are phenols, an intermediate-low level disinfectant, rarely used anymore?
They irritate the skin and smell bad
What low-level disinfectant is both a detergent and germicidal, and therefore used for general surface decontamination?
Quaternary ammonium compounds
How are halogens like chlorine, hypochlorous acid, and bleach most often used?
Surfaces and water decontamination
What 2 chemical compounds are widely used to clean both living tissue and inanimate objects?
Alcohols and hydrogen peroxide
What is the highest level of cleaning that can be achieved with hydrogen peroxide?
Sterilization: a strong solution of hydrogen peroxide can be sporicidal
What chemical compound, made by combining hydrogen peroxide with acetic acid, is used to kill Legionella in cooling water towers?
Peracetic Acid (PAA)
How does plasma sterilization make free radicals, and what end products are left over after sterilization?
Uses UV or microwave light; only water is produced.
Plasma sterilization is: wet/dry and high heat/low heat
dry, low heat
What kinds of compounds act by destroying the SH groups of microbes?
Heavy metals (silver, copper) and organic acids
Derivatives of what chemical class are found in Colgate Total and Listerine?
Quaternary ammonium compounds
What term describes an item that enters a normally sterile part of the human body?
Critical item
What term describes an item that only comes into contact with intact skin?
Noncritical item
What type of cleaner is iodine: a sterilant, disinfectant, or antiseptic?
Antiseptic
Which is least resistant to disinfectants: fungi, spores, or prions?
Fungi
