BIOS 2210 Chapter 13 Flashcards

Here’s a short-answer style breakdown for flashcards or study prep:

What is the difference between sterile and aseptic?

  • Sterile: Completely free of all living microbes, including spores.

  • Aseptic: A technique or environment that minimizes contamination with pathogens, but not necessarily microbe-free.

Define antiseptic

  • A chemical used on living tissue to reduce or kill microbes (e.g., hydrogen peroxide, iodine).

Define disinfectant

  • A chemical used on non-living surfaces to destroy or inhibit microbes (e.g., bleach, Lysol).

Scenario: Apply antiseptic but not disinfectant

  • Before giving an injection, antiseptic is used to clean skin to avoid tissue damage that a disinfectant could cause.

Mode of action of alcohol hand gel

  • Denatures proteins and disrupts lipid membranes, killing many bacteria and some viruses.

Why might hand gel be less effective than soap and water?

  • Doesn’t remove dirt, debris, or spores.

  • Ineffective against some non-enveloped viruses or Clostridioides difficile.

Proper handwashing technique

  1. Wet hands with water.

  2. Apply soap and scrub all surfaces (palms, backs, between fingers, under nails) for at least 20 seconds.

  3. Rinse thoroughly.

  4. Dry with a clean towel or air dry.

What is a hospital-acquired infection (HAI)?

  • An infection a patient gets during a hospital stay not present at admission.

#1 way to prevent HAIs

  • Proper hand hygiene (washing hands or using sanitizer).

Examples of bacterial HAIs

  • MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)

  • C. difficile (Clostridioides difficile)

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