Chapter 11: Antimicrobials

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from Chapter 11 discussion on antimicrobials.

Antimicrobial agents

Agents that kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

Sporicide

An agent capable of killing endospores.

Microbial death rate

Rate used to evaluate the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent, typically constant over time and generally exponential.

Sterilization

Process that destroys or removes all viable microorganisms, including viruses and endospores.

Disinfection

Destroys most microbial life (vegetative pathogens), reducing contamination on inanimate surfaces.

Antisepsis

Application of chemical agents (antiseptics) to living tissues to destroy or inhibit vegetative pathogens.

Degerming

Mechanical removal of microbes from living surfaces, usually by scrubbing.

Sanitization

Removal of most microbes to make items safe for food or health standards.

Moist heat

Delivers heat and moisture in microbial control processes, e.g., boiling, autoclaving.

Dry heat

Uses heat without moisture, often at higher temperatures to incinerate or sterilize.

Cold treatment

Slows activities of most microbes; some microbes are killed by very low temperatures.

Desiccation

Dehydration of vegetative cells that reduces the amount of water available for microbial growth.

Filtration

An effective method to remove microbes from liquids and air by straining fluids through a filter.

Ionizing radiation

High-energy radiation that ejects electrons from atoms, causing damage to proteins and DNA.

Nonionizing radiation

Radiation that excites atoms without ejecting electrons, forming abnormal bonds in molecules like DNA.

Surfactants

Chemicals that reduce surface tension and disrupt cell walls/membranes, contributing to microbial lysis.

Halogens

Elements like chlorine and iodine that possess antimicrobial properties; effective on a variety of pathogens.

Phenolics

Disinfectants that act by denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes; commonly used in healthcare settings.

Heavy metals

Toxic compounds that can inactivate proteins; include silver and mercury; they can confer resistance in some microorganisms.