Term
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Definition
| Microbes that are present at a time and place where they are not wanted |
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Term
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Definition
Temporarily prevent the growth of microorganisms
Example: Bacteriostatic agents temporarily prevent the growth of bacteria |
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Term
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Definition
Kill or destroy and organism
Example: Germicidal agents destroy pathogenic microorganisms |
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Term
| Highest Resistance to microbial control |
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Definition
| Bacterial spores and prions |
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Term
| Moderate resistance to microbial control |
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Definition
| Some bacteria including mycobacterium tb, protozoan cysts, fungal sexual spores and naked viruses |
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Term
| Least resistance to microbial control |
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Definition
| Most bacteria, fungal nonsexual spores and hyphae, enveloped viruses, yeast and protozoan trophozoites |
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Term
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Definition
A process that destroys or removes all viable microorganisms, including spores and viruses, on inanimate objects
Example- surgical instruments, commercially packaged food |
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Term
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Definition
Use of physical process or chemical agent to destroy vegetative pathogens on inaminate objects
Ex- 5% chlorine bleach and boiling food utensils |
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Term
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Definition
Chemical agents that destroy or inhibit vegetative pathogens on human skin or mucous membranes
Ex- cleaning skin with iodine before surgery, washing hands with germicidal soap |
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Term
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Definition
Reducing the number of microorganisms on inaminate objects. Can be done with physical or chemical agents
Example: washing dishes with soap and washing the laundry |
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Term
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Definition
Reducing the number of microorganisms on human skin.
Example: surgical scrub, using alcohol wipes |
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Term
Mode of action of antimicrobial agent
Cell Wall |
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Definition
Antimicrobials can either block its synthesis or destroy its components
- This either destroys the cell or reduces its stability
- Targets bacteria and fungi
Example: penicillin, detergents, alcohols |
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Term
Mode of action of antimicrobials
Cell membrane |
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Definition
Antimicrobial agents that target the cell membrane bind and penetrate the phospholipids
- Causes the membrane to lose its selective permeability and components leak into and out of the cell until it dies
- Targets: all microbes and enveloped viruses
Examples: surfactants |
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Term
Mode of action of antimicrobial agent
Nucleic acid synthesis |
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Definition
- Bind irreversibly to DNA. This stops transcription and translation
- Causes mutations. This leads to nonfunctional proteins and cell death
Examples: chemical agents such as formaldehyde and physical agents such as radiation |
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Term
| Mode of action of antimicrobial agent |
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Definition
Targets protein synthesis bind to ribosomes and prevent peptide bonds from forming
- This stops translation
- Example: chloramphenicol |
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Term
Mode of action of antimicrobial agents
Protein function |
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Definition
- Block protein active sites
- Cause the protein to take a diff shape
- Completely denature protein
Examples: physical agents such as heat and pH. Chemical agents such as alcohols, acids, phenolics, and metallic ions |
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Term
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Definition
| Lowest possible time to kill all vegetative cells in a sample at a specified temperature. Varies widely |
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Term
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Definition
Works by either coagulating proteins (boil egg white) or denaturing proteins
- Steam and Pressue
- Tyndallization |
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Term
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Definition
Disinfection of beverages by exposing them to 71.6 C for 15 seconds
- This stops fermentation
- Prevents the transmission of milk-borne diseases from cows to humans such as salmonella, campylobacter, listeria, and mycobacteria
Examples: milk industry, wineries, breweries |
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Term
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Definition
Decontaminates at 100 C for 30 minutes
- Kills most spore forming pathogens
Examples: home sanitizing and disinfecting, disinfecting unsafe drinking water |
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Term
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Definition
150 C for 2-4 hours
Effective for inanimate objects and oils
Example- oven |
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Term
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Definition
Destroys microbes to ashes or gas. Flame: 18070 C (bunsen burner)
Furnace: 800 to 6500 C |
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Term
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Definition
| An instant freezing and drying method used to preserve microbes |
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Term
| Dessication or dehydration |
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Definition
Air drying to remove water from the cell
- Kills some microorganisms but many vegetative cells survive. Endospores can survive millions of years in their dessicated states |
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Term
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Definition
Ejects orbital electrons from an atom
- Usually lethal. Alternative sterilization method
- High energy. Penetrates lqiods and solids effectively
- Useful for materials that are sensitive to heat and chemicals (fruit, veggies, and nuts)
- Gamma rays: high energy
X rays: intermediate energy
cathode rays: least energy |
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Term
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Definition
Raises atoms to a higher energy state
- Low energy. Less penetration cabability
- Can be used on liquids but they must be very thin to be disinfected (not a pool)
- Not usually lethal. Alternative disinfectant method
- Causes pyrimidine dimers to form
Examples: UV radiation |
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Term
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Definition
Removes microbes and spores from liquids and air.
- Uses a perforated membrane
- Useful for liquids that are sensitive to heat
Example: filtered water and HEPA filters in vacuums and air filters |
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Term
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Definition
- Chlorine: disrupts sulfhydryl groups in amino acids causing denaturation
Kills pathogenic vegetative cells
Disinfectant: bleach
Antiseptic: pool water treatment
- Iodine: disrupts sulfhydryl groups in amino acids causing protein denaturation
Used as a topical antiseptic
Example: betadine is used to clean skin before surgery |
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Term
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Definition
Class of compounds built on an aromatic ring. The attachment of different functional groups to the aromatic ring yield the different members of this group
- Many are microbicidal. They work by disrupting cell walls and cell membranes
- High concentrations are highly toxic to human cells
- High concentrations are highly toxic to human cells
- Example is lysol |
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Term
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Definition
| Class of compounds that work to dissolve membrane lipids, disrupt cell surface tension, and denature proteins |
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Term
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Definition
A colorless and caustic liquid that decomposes in the presence of light. Works by forming OH free radicals
- Effective against anaerobes
- Bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal and sporucidal
- Quick method for sterilizing medical equipment
- Skin and wound cleanser |
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Term
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Definition
Bind and disrupt the cell membrane, causing it to lose its selective permeability
- Low level disinfecant in the clinical setting
- Quaternary ammonium such as benzylkonium chloride used as a disinfectant for eating utensils in restaurants |
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Term
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Definition
| Contain fatty acids, oils, and sodium or potassium salts. Wealky microbicidial |
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Term
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Definition
Bind to the functional groups of proteins and inactivate them.
- Destroys bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses (not endospores)
- Can be toxic if ingested
- Examples are mercury and silver |
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Term
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Definition
Rapid and broad spectrum method of disinfectant. Works by cross-linking proteins on the cell's surface
- Kills vegetative cells in a few min and endospores in a few hours
- Example is gluteraldehyde |
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Term
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Definition
Block DNA replication at the level of enzyme attachments
- Sterilizes and disinfects plastic materials
Example is ethylene oxide (highly explosive) |
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Term
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Definition
Prevent spore germination and vegetative cell growth
Example- acetic acid (vinegar). Used to pickle food |
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Term
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Definition
Prevent spore germination and vegetative cell growth
Example: ammonium hydroxide |
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