Chapter 5: Control of Microbial Growth

BSL-1

Procedures for work with microbes not known to cause disease in healthy people

BSL-2

Procedures for work with moderate-risk microbes that cause disease but have limited transmission potential

BSL-3

Procedures for work with pathogens that cause serious or potentially fatal disease through inhalation

BSL-4

Procedures for work with easily transmitted deadly pathogens; uncurable

D-value

Decimal reduction time; the time needed to kill 90% of the population

Disinfection

reduces or destroys microbial load; reserved for the destruction of microbes on a non-living, or inanimate, object through heat or antimicrobial chemicals

Sanitization

a treatment to reduce the microbial population to a level that meets accepted health standards; reserved for inanimate items

Sterilization

the removal of all microbes and viruses from a product through physical or chemical processes; eliminates all vegetative vells, endospores, and viruses from inanimate items

Antisepsis

reduces microbial load from skin or tissue through antimicrobial chemicals

Degerming

reduces microbial loaf on skin or tissue through gentle to firm scrubbing and the use of mild chemicals