Surgical Technology: Microbiology Notes

Asepsis and Sterilization

  • ASEPSIS - Absence of disease-causing microorganisms.
  • STERILE - Free of all living microorganisms, including spores.
  • SURGICALLY CLEAN - Mechanically disinfected but not sterile.

Sterilization and Disinfection

  • AERATION - Method to remove ethylene oxide from ETO-sterilized items.
  • AEROBES - Microbes that require oxygen to live and reproduce.
  • FACULTATIVE ANAEROBES - Microbes that can live with or without oxygen.
  • ANAEROBES - Microbes that live in the absence of oxygen.

Fomites and Cells

  • FOMITE - Inanimate object that can harbor microorganisms.
  • CELLS - Smallest unit of living things.

Cell Structures and Functions

  • MITOCHONDRIA - Powerhouse of the cell, providing energy.
  • FLAGELLA - Provides locomotion to the cell.
  • CELL WALL - Protects the cell.
  • CYTOPLASMIC MEMBRANE - Semipermeable membrane within the cell.

Bacteria Classification

  • All living cells are classified into two groups:
    • PROKARYOTES - Less complex organisms with a single circular chromosome, without a nuclear membrane or membrane-bound organelles.
    • EUKARYOTES - Complex cellular structure, including fungi, algae, plant, and animal cells, possessing a nucleus.
  • Bacteria divide by BINARY FISSION - Asexual reproduction.

Bacterial Shapes and Staining

  • Bacteria Shapes: Rod-shaped, spherical-shaped, spiral-shaped.
  • GRAM-POSITIVE - Purple.
  • GRAM-NEGATIVE - Red.

Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic Agents

  • BACTERICIDE - Kills gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
  • BACTERIOSTATIC - Inhibits the growth of bacteria.

Bioburden and Sterilization Monitoring

  • BIOBURDEN - The number of microorganisms on an item before sterilization.
  • BIOLOGICAL INDICATOR - Sterilization monitoring system to test the effectiveness of the sterilization process.
    • GEOBACILLUS STEAROTHERMOPHILUS - Microbe used in steam sterilization.
    • BACILLUS ATROPHIES/GEOBACILLUS SUBTILIS - Microbes used for ETO sterilization.

Contamination and Decontamination

  • CONTAMINATION - Presence of pathogenic microorganisms on animate (living) and inanimate (nonliving) objects.
  • DECONTAMINATION - Process using chemical or physical agents to clean inanimate objects and noncritical surfaces.

Surgical Site Infections and Tissue Treatment

  • SSI - Surgical Site Infection.
  • DEEP INCISIONAL SSI - Infection involving deep soft tissue, fascia.
  • DISINFECTION - Not used on living tissue; used on inanimate objects.
  • ANTISEPTIC - Used on living tissue.

Fungicides and Immunity

  • FUNGICIDE - Kills fungi.
  • IMMUNITY - Resistance to infection.
    • NATURALLY ACQUIRED ACTIVE IMMUNITY - Acquired through exposure to a disease, resulting in antibody production.
    • ARTIFICIALLY ACQUIRED ACTIVE IMMUNITY - Vaccination.
    • NATURALLY ACQUIRED PASSIVE IMMUNITY - Antibodies from mother to child through the placenta.
    • ARTIFICIALLY ACQUIRED PASSIVE IMMUNITY - Short-term immunization by the injection of antibodies, such as gamma globulin.

Infection and Skin Defense

  • INFECTION - Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, causing cellular damage.
  • SKIN - First line of defense against bacteria.

Nosocomial Infections and Pasteurization

  • NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION - Infection acquired in the hospital.
  • PASTEURIZATION - Heating process to destroy pathogenic microorganisms in substances like milk or wine, but not a sterilization method.

Parasites and Pathogens

  • PARASITES - Microorganisms that reside on or within living organisms.
    • OBLIGATORY - Depend on living tissue.
    • FACULTATIVE - Capable of living on dead tissue.
  • PATHOGEN - Any disease-producing microorganism.

Resident and Transient Microorganisms

  • RESIDENT MICROORGANISMS - Microorganisms that live deep in the epidermis, residing in skin folds and crevices.
  • TRANSIENT MICROORGANISMS - Microorganisms that live on the surface of the epidermis, with a short lifespan, removable by hand scrubbing.

Virucides and Specific Microorganisms

  • VIRUCIDE - Kills viruses.

Common Microorganisms

  • STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS - Commonly found in respiratory passages.
  • ENTEROCOCCI - Found in the normal flora of the GI tract, associated with surgical site infections (SSIs).
  • STREPTOCOCCI - Found in the GI, upper respiratory, and genitourinary tracts.
  • HELMINTHS - Parasitic worms (roundworms, tapeworms), acquired by ingesting contaminated soil with fecal matter.
  • RICKETTSIAE - Parasites transmitted by insects.

Clostridia and Mycobacteria

  • CLOSTRIDIA - Produces virulent toxins.
    • CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS - GAS GANGRENE (serious infection in body tissue, causing a buildup of gas).
    • C. TETANI - TETANUS (muscle twitching, cramps, caused by a problem with the parathyroid glands involving calcium).
    • C. DIFFICILE - Altered normal flora in the intestines, usually caused by overuse of antibiotics, leading to severe diarrhea and dehydration.
    • MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS - Transmitted directly from the respiratory tract, causing TB.

Pandemics and Endemics

  • PANDEMIC - Global outbreak of a disease affecting many people.
  • ENDEMIC - Disease connected to a particular group of people in a certain area.

Microscopy and Medical Pioneers

  • MICROSCOPE - Instrument used to view microorganisms, invented by Anton Von Leeuwenhoek.
  • JOSEPH LISTER - Father of modern medicine, discovered antiseptic techniques.
  • LOUIS PASTEUR - Founded the science of microbiology, establishing that diseases are caused by microorganisms.

Viruses and Resistant Bacteria

  • VIRUSES - Examples include HIV, herpes simplex, hepatitis B, C, and D.
  • METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA) - Strain resistant to most antibiotics; Vancomycin is the primary effective treatment.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Prions

  • CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE - Fatal neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system caused by a HUMAN PRION.
  • PRION/PROTEINACEOUS INFECTIOUS PARTICLE - Smallest infectious particle; neither viral, bacterial, nor fungal. Responsible for mad cow disease. Requires disposable instruments during surgery due to the absence of a sterilization process that kills prions.

Bioterrorist Agents

  • Anthrax
  • Smallpox
  • Plague (pneumonic, bubonic)
  • Tularemia (various types of insect bites)
  • Botulism

Relationships Among Organisms

  • MUTUALISM - Different organisms exist and benefits from the other.
  • COMMENSALISM - One organism benefits and the other does not benefit and is not harmed.
  • PARASITISM - One organism benefits from the other and is harmed.

Osmosis and Cell Division

  • OSMOSIS - A fluid, usually water passes through a membrane solution of higher concentration which equalizes the concentrations of materials on either side of the membrane.
  • MITOSIS - Division of a single cell into two identical cells. Each cell has an identical number of chromosomes as the parent cell. They have the same genes
  • MEIOSIS - Cell division involving sexually reproducing organisms

Types of Infections

  • CHRONIC INFECTION - A continued presence of infection
  • ACUTE INFECTION - A rapid onset of the disease but for a short time
  • EPIDEMIC - Quick widespread infectious disease in a certain area, an example would be the flu