Sterilization And Disinfection

Front 1

define sterile

Back 1

free of any life form or process

Front 2

define disinfection

Back 2

frees from infection, kills bacteria/inactivates viruses but does not necessarily kill bacterial spores

Front 3

define antiseptic

Back 3

opposes growth or action of microorgs, used in reference to a substance utilized on a body surface or wound

Front 4

define sanitize

Back 4

using an agent that reduces microbisl contaminants to safe levels as determined by public health requirements

Front 5

what is the most effective and practical sterilization method and its drawbacks?

Back 5

moist heat (autoclave). it does not work on heat labile things and it does not work on closed containers

Front 6

what type of sterilization takes longer than autoclaving but does no dull sharp edges and it can permeate closed containers.

Back 6

dry heat sterilization

Front 7

what is used to sterilize microbes in the air?

Back 7

UV radiation

Front 8

ionizing radiation would be a great way to sterilize objects except that...

Back 8

it is not practical except in facilities that can contain ionizing radiation

Front 9

what method of sterilization is used for solutions that are heat labile or whose efficacy/safety is compromised by the introduction of chemicals or heat? what is its drawback?

Back 9

filtration. the pores may not be small enough to get some viruses

Front 10

sterilizing via chemicals acts on microbes in what ways?

Back 10

either oxidating the cell, denaturing the proteins, inactivating vital enzymes by alkylation, modifying the permeability of the cell, or disrupting the cell.

Front 11

hydrogen peroxide is a sterilization agent that kills by

Back 11

oxidizing via free radicals

Front 12

chlorine dioxide is a sterilization agent that kills by...

Back 12

oxidizing, it is a gas, used in buildings where anthrax has been released

Front 13

ethylene oxide is a sterilization agen that acts by...

Back 13

alkylating. it is a gas and it is very toxic so its use has been curtailed

Front 14

how does the sterilizing agent peracetic acid kill?

Back 14

it is an oxidizing liquid that is fast and used on heat sensitive instruments, but these instruments must be used quickly

Front 15

the most practical method of evaluating sterilization is by...

Back 15

the number of spores left after sterilizing

Front 16

critical items are what? semi critical?

Back 16

anything that enters tissue or blood. items that come into contact with mucous membrane (do not need to be completely sterilized of spores but need to be free of bacs or viruses)

Front 17

what is a non critical item?

Back 17

comes in contact with skin and only needs low or medium disinfection

Front 18

what is the difference between high level disinfectants and sterilizers and what are some examples of high levels?

Back 18

they each can kill spores usually, sometimes its just small concentration differences or how long the agent will work. glutaraldehyde (alkylator), peracetic acid, chlorine dioxide, H2O2.

Front 19

describe intermediate disinfectants and name a few.

Back 19

either weakly or non sporicidal. Na hypochlorite (bleach, higher the concentration the more it can disinfect - can actually kill spores at high levels) and iodophor compounds

Front 20

describe low level disinfectants and name a few.

Back 20

non sporicidal and do not inactivate all bacs/viruses. quarternary amine compounds (denature cell membrane and some are used as antiseptic)

Front 21

how many nosocomial infections occur per year in the US? what are the most common G+ infections? G-? spore formers?

Back 21

2 mil. Staph aureus then Enterococcus faecalis and faecium. E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Clostridium difficile.

Front 22

describe the antiseptic chlorhexidine

Back 22

it is a surgical scub that disrupts the membranes/lipids. it actively persists after drying but it has poor killing activity against some enterococcus and stphylococcus species

Front 23

describe the antiseptic triclosan.

Back 23

most common in antibacterial soaps... bacs may becoming resistant to it.

Front 24

what is the best choice for routine hand antiseptic?

Back 24

ethyl alcohol gels... kil most bacs not viruses though.

Front 25

the best hand antiseptic in surgery is?

Back 25

chlorhexadine for continued activity and alcohol rub for fast killing capability