Sterilization, Disinfection, and Antibiotic Therapy

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in sterilization, disinfection, antibiotic therapy, and the immune system.

Sterilization

Destroys all living cells, spores, and viruses.

Disinfection

Killing/removal of pathogens from inanimate surfaces.

Antisepsis

Removing pathogens from living tissues.

Sanitation

Reducing microbes to safe levels.

Cidal agents

Agents that kill microbes.

Static agents

Agents that inhibit growth.

Germicidal

An antimicrobial that kills germs.

Physical Methods of Microbial Control

Techniques used to eliminate or reduce microbial populations.

Moist Heat

More effective than dry heat in killing microbes.

Autoclave

Device that sterilizes using steam under pressure.

Pasteurization

Process that kills pathogens in liquids without sterilizing.

Filtration

Technique used to sterilize liquids by removing microorganisms.

Ultra-high temperature processing

Method that sterilizes milk for extended shelf life.

Chemical Disinfection

Use of chemicals to kill or inhibit microbial growth.

Antimicrobial Surfaces

Surfaces designed to release ions that kill microbes.

Antibiotic Therapy

Use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections.

Selective Toxicity

Property of a drug that harms microbes without harming the host.

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)

The lowest concentration of an antibiotic that inhibits growth.

Therapeutic Dose

Minimum dose of a drug to stop pathogen growth.

Toxic Dose

Maximum dose of a drug that can be tolerated by the patient.

Chemotherapeutic Index

Formula: Toxic dose / Therapeutic dose.

Synergistic Drugs

Drugs that work better together.

Antagonistic Drugs

Drugs that interfere with each other.

Beta-lactams

A class of antibiotics that inhibit cell wall synthesis.

Gramicidin

A topical drug that disrupts bacterial cell membranes.

Metronidazole

A drug that damages the DNA of anaerobic microbes.

Quinolones

Class of drugs that inhibit bacterial DNA replication.

Aminoglycosides

Bactericidal agents that inhibit protein synthesis.

Tetracyclines

Bacteriostatic agents that inhibit protein synthesis.

Antibiotic Resistance

Ability of bacteria to resist the effects of an antibiotic.

Dysbiosis

Imbalance of the microbiome that can lead to disease.

Prebiotics

Compounds that promote beneficial bacteria.

Probiotics

Live microbes taken to restore the microbiome.

Innate Immunity

The body's first line of defense against pathogens.

Eosinophils

White blood cells involved in parasite defense and allergic reactions.

Natural Killer Cells

Cells that kill virus-infected and cancer cells.

Inflammation

The body's response to injury or infection.

Phagocytosis

Process by which cells engulf and digest pathogens.

Interferons

Cytokines released to warn nearby cells of infection.

Toll-Like Receptors

Receptors that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns.

Complement System

Cascade of proteins that enhance immune responses.

Adaptive Immunity

Specific immune response that develops over time.

B-Cell Activation

Process through which B cells produce antibodies.

Helper T Cells

T cells that activate B cells and macrophages.

MHC Molecules

Proteins that present antigens on cell surfaces.

Cytotoxic T Cells

T cells that kill infected or cancerous cells.

Superantigens

Antigens that cause excessive activation of T cells.