Microbiology and Disease Control Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about microbiology, epidemiology, disease control, and antimicrobial drugs.

Epidemiology

Field that studies the geographical distribution and timing of infectious disease occurrences.

Morbidity

The state of being diseased.

CFU

The number of microbial colony-forming units.

Fomites

Objects that carry viruses/bacteria and can spread infections.

Disinfection

Reduces or kills most microbes.

Sanitization

Lowers the number of germs to safe levels.

Sterilization

Destroys all microbial life.

BSL-1

Low risk, minimal precaution (e.g., E. coli).

BSL-2

Moderate risk, need PPE (e.g., Staph aureus).

BSL-3

High risk, airborne precautions (e.g., TB).

BSL-4

Extreme risk, full containment (e.g., Ebola).

Autoclave

Sterilizes materials using pressurized steam.

Sepsis

Disinfection on living tissue.

Biocide

The absolute death of microbes.

Bactericides

Kill bacteria.

Viriades

Inactivate viruses.

Fungicides

Kill fungi.

Bacteriostasis

Stops the growth of organisms.

Antisepsis

Applying antiseptics on skin.

Degerming

Reducing microbial numbers by scrubbing living tissue with a mild chemical.

Physical methods of microbial control

Controls microbial growth using methods like temperature, radiation, filtration, and desiccation.

Essential Oils

A mixture of hydrocarbons extracted from plants with antimicrobial properties.

Chlorines

Used as a disinfectant.

Chloramines

Like NH₂Cl, used as a disinfectant.

Bioaccumulation of metals

Heavy metal concentration increases and can have toxic effects, denaturing proteins.

Zone of Inhibition

Indicates how effective an antimicrobial is against a particular species.

Antibiotics

Drugs used to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. Derived from natural sources.

Bacteriostatic Drugs

Stop bacteria from growing.

Bactericidal Drugs

Kill bacteria directly.

Narrow-spectrum antimicrobials

Target only specific bacterial pathogens.

Broad-spectrum antimicrobials

Target many bacterial pathogens.

Drug Resistance

Microbes evolving to overcome antimicrobial compounds due to overuse or misuse.

Disease

A condition that disrupts normal body function, causing signs/symptoms and affecting health.

Infection

Invasion and growth of harmful microbes in the body.

Infectious Disease

Caused by the direct effect of a pathogen and can be communicable or contagious.

Iatrogenic Disease

Diseases contracted as a result of a medical procedure.