Microbial Control and Antimicrobial Treatments Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about microbial control and antimicrobial treatments.

Antiseptics

Used on the body to kill or inhibit microorganisms.

Disinfectants

Used on surfaces to kill or inhibit microorganisms.

Sterilization

A process that eliminates all forms of microbial life, including spores.

Sanitization

Reduces the number of microorganisms to a safe level.

Decontamination

The removal of harmful substances or germs from objects or surfaces.

Disinfection

Destroys or inhibits the growth of microorganisms on non-living objects or surfaces.

Prions

The most resistant microbe to controls

Septicemia

An infection specifically in the blood.

Desiccation

Dehydration, a method used for food preservation. Preserving food by removing moisture.

Therapeutic Index

Indicates drug safety; a higher index is safer.

Kidney or Liver Disease Considerations

Their bodies may not effectively metabolize or eliminate drugs, leading to potential toxicity.

Treating Helminths and Protozoa Difficulty

Because they are eukaryotic like humans, so treatments can harm human cells too.

Efflux Pumps

Pumps that pump the drug out of the cell, reducing its effectiveness.

MDR

Multi-drug resistance.

New Approaches to Antimicrobial Therapy

Phage therapy, CRISPR, and probiotics.

Superinfection

An infection occurring after or on top of an earlier infection, often due to antibiotic use.

Sterilization vs. Sanitization

Sterilization kills all microbes; sanitization reduces them to safe levels.

Vegetative Cells vs. Spores

Vegetative cells are active and growing; spores are dormant and more resistant.

Why Boiling Doesn't Kill Spores

Because spores are highly resistant to heat and require more extreme conditions.

Two Forms of Heat Methods

Moist heat and dry heat.

Silica Gel Packets

To keep products dry and prevent mold growth.

Vegetative Cells

Active and growing cells