Microbial Control

Microbiology Laboratory

Laboratory that detects, identifies, characterizes, and studies microorganisms from clinical specimens.

Patient Specimen Processing

Analysis of clinical specimens to detect, identify, and characterize microorganisms.

Rapid Tests and Immunoassays

Diagnostic methods that rapidly detect microbial antigens, antibodies, or toxins.

ELISA

Immunoassay that detects or measures specific antigens or antibodies using enzyme-linked reactions.

Multiplex Microbead System

Immunoassay that simultaneously detects multiple analytes using labeled microbeads.

Complement Fixation Test

Immunological test that detects antibodies by measuring complement consumption.

Microscopy

Direct visualization of microorganisms using a microscope.

Culture

Growth of microorganisms in artificial media for isolation, amplification, or observation.

Biochemical Tests

Laboratory tests used to identify microorganisms based on their metabolic activities.

Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing

Laboratory testing used to determine a microorganism's susceptibility to antimicrobial agents.

Molecular Testing

Detection and analysis of microbial nucleic acids for identification or characterization.

Nucleic Acid Amplification

Technique that increases the quantity of specific nucleic acid sequences for detection.

Sequencing

Determination of the nucleotide order within DNA or RNA.

Risk Group 1 (RG1)

Microorganisms not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adults.

Risk Group 2 (RG2)

Microorganisms associated with human disease but posing limited community risk.

Risk Group 3 (RG3)

Microorganisms capable of causing serious disease and transmitted primarily through aerosols.

Risk Group 4 (RG4)

Dangerous microorganisms that frequently cause life-threatening disease and pose high community risk.

Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1)

Laboratory containment level for work with low-risk microorganisms using standard microbiological practices.

Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2)

Containment level for moderate-risk microorganisms requiring restricted access and additional safety practices.

Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3)

Containment level for microorganisms capable of causing serious disease through aerosol transmission.

Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4)

Highest laboratory containment level for dangerous microorganisms with high individual and community risk.

Biocide

Chemical or biological agent that destroys microorganisms.

Sterilization

Complete destruction or removal of all microorganisms, including spores.

Disinfection

Destruction or inhibition of disease-causing microorganisms on inanimate objects.

Sanitization

Reduction of microbial populations to levels considered safe for public health.

Antisepsis

Destruction or inhibition of microorganisms on living tissues.

Microbicidal Agent

Agent that kills microorganisms.

Microbistatic Agent

Agent that inhibits microbial growth without killing microorganisms.

Bactericide

Agent that kills bacteria.

Fungicide

Agent that kills fungi.

Viricide

Agent that inactivates or destroys viruses.

Bacteriostatic Agent

Agent that inhibits bacterial growth without killing bacteria.

Fungistatic Agent

Agent that inhibits fungal growth without killing fungi.

Decimal Reduction Time (D-Value)

Time required to reduce a microbial population by 90% under specified conditions.

Filtration

Physical method of microbial control that removes microorganisms by passing materials through a filter.

Air Filtration

Removal of airborne microorganisms using specialized filters.

N95 Respirator

Respirator that filters at least 95% of airborne particles measuring 0.3 μm or larger.

HEPA Filter

Filter that removes at least 99.97% of airborne particles measuring 0.3 μm or larger.

Liquid Filtration

Filtration method used to sterilize heat-sensitive liquids.

Depth Filter

Filter that traps microorganisms within a thick porous matrix.

Membrane Filter

Thin filter with defined pore sizes used to produce sterile filtrates.

Dry Heat Sterilization

Sterilization method that destroys microorganisms using hot, dry air.

Incineration

Dry heat method that sterilizes materials by complete combustion.

Hot Air Oven

Device that sterilizes materials using dry heat.

Moist Heat Sterilization

Sterilization method that destroys microorganisms using heated water or steam.

Autoclave

Device that sterilizes materials using pressurized steam.

Boiling Water

Moist heat method that disinfects materials by exposure to boiling temperature.

Pasteurization

Heat treatment that reduces pathogenic microorganisms without achieving sterilization.

Tyndallization

Repeated heating process that destroys vegetative cells during successive incubation cycles.

Ionizing Radiation

Radiation that sterilizes by producing free radicals that damage cellular components.

Nonionizing Radiation

Radiation that controls microorganisms primarily by damaging nucleic acids without ionizing atoms.

Ultraviolet (UV) Light

Nonionizing radiation that damages microbial DNA.

Cold Plasma

Ionized gas used for microbial disinfection at low temperatures.

Sterilizing Gas

Gaseous chemical agent that sterilizes by alkylating proteins and nucleic acids.

Ethylene Oxide

Sterilizing gas that destroys microorganisms through alkylation of proteins and DNA.

Chlorine Dioxide

Sterilizing gas used to destroy microorganisms by oxidation and alkylation reactions.

Antiseptic

Chemical agent applied to living tissues to inhibit or destroy microorganisms.

Disinfectant

Chemical agent applied to inanimate surfaces to destroy microorganisms.

Phenolics

Chemical biocides that denature proteins and disrupt cell membranes.

Alcohols

Chemical biocides that denature proteins and dissolve membrane lipids.

Halogens

Chemical biocides that oxidize cellular components and iodinate proteins.

Heavy Metals

Chemical biocides that inactivate proteins through interaction with functional groups.

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)

Chemical biocides that disrupt lipid membranes and may denature proteins.

Aldehydes

Chemical biocides that kill microorganisms by cross-linking proteins and nucleic acids.

Predatory Bacteria

Bacteria that obtain nutrients by attacking and consuming other bacteria.

Bdellovibrio

Predatory bacterium that invades and kills susceptible Gram-negative bacteria.

Bacteriophage

Virus that infects and replicates within bacteria.

Phage Therapy

Use of bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections.

Population Size

Factor affecting microbial control in which larger populations require longer exposure for effective killing.

Population Composition

Factor affecting microbial control based on differences in microbial resistance.

Biocide Concentration

Factor affecting microbial control in which effectiveness depends on the concentration of the antimicrobial agent.

Contact Time

Duration of exposure between microorganisms and a control agent.

Temperature

Environmental factor that influences the effectiveness of microbial control methods.

Local Environment

Surrounding conditions, such as biofilms or organic matter, that influence antimicrobial effectiveness.

Antibiotics

Antimicrobial drugs used to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

Penicillin

β-lactam antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Streptomycin

Aminoglycoside antibiotic that was the first effective treatment for tuberculosis.

Selective Toxicity

Ability of an antimicrobial drug to kill or inhibit microorganisms while causing minimal harm to the host.

Therapeutic Dose

Drug concentration required to effectively treat an infection.

Toxic Dose

Drug concentration that causes unacceptable toxicity to the host.

Therapeutic Index

Ratio of toxic dose to therapeutic dose that indicates the safety of a drug.

Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotic

Antibiotic effective against a limited range of microorganisms.

Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic

Antibiotic effective against a wide variety of microorganisms.

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)

Lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent that prevents visible microbial growth.

Minimum Lethal Concentration (MLC)

Lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent that kills a microorganism.

Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitor

Class of antibacterial drugs that prevents peptidoglycan synthesis.

Penicillins

Class of β-lactam antibiotics that inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Cephalosporins

Class of β-lactam antibiotics that inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Carbapenems

Class of β-lactam antibiotics with broad-spectrum activity that inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Monobactams

Class of β-lactam antibiotics that inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis, primarily in Gram-negative bacteria.

Vancomycin

Glycopeptide antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Protein Synthesis Inhibitor

Class of antibacterial drugs that inhibits translation by binding bacterial ribosomes.

Aminoglycosides

Class of antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding the 30S ribosomal subunit.

Tetracyclines

Class of antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by preventing aminoacyl-tRNA binding to the ribosome.

Macrolides

Class of antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding the 50S ribosomal subunit.

Lincosamides

Class of antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding the 50S ribosomal subunit.

Oxazolidinones

Class of antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by preventing formation of the initiation complex.

Metabolic Antagonist

Antibacterial drug that blocks essential metabolic pathways by competing with normal substrates.

Sulfonamides

Class of metabolic antagonists that inhibit folic acid synthesis.

Trimethoprim

Metabolic antagonist that inhibits bacterial dihydrofolate reductase.