BCHM 4360 EXAM 2 CHAPTER 9 ACTUAL
EXAM 2026 UPDATE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+
What are the methods of microbial control used outside of the body?
- ANS-1. sterilization: complete removal or destruction of living
microorganisms
2. disinfection: destruction or removal of vegetative
pathogens but not bacterial endospores
3. decontamination (sanitation): mechanical removal of most
microbes
4. antisepsis (degermation): chemicals applied to body
surfaces to destroy or inhibit vegetative pathogens
What is sterilization? What are some agents? What are some
common uses? - ANS-- process that destroys/removes all living
microorganisms (including viruses), goals is to destruction of
bacterial endospores
- agents: heat (autoclave), sterilants (chemical agents
capable of destroying endospores)
- common uses: surgical instruments, syringes, commercially
packaged foods
What is disinfection? What are some agents? What are some
common uses? - ANS-- physical process or a chemical agent to
destroy vegetative pathogens but not bacterial endospores,
removes harmful products of microorganisms (toxins) from
material
- agents: bleach, iodine, heat (boiling)
, - common uses: boiling food utensils, applying 5% bleach
solution to an examining table, immersing thermometers in iodine
solution between uses
What is decontamination/sanitation? What are some agents? What
are some common uses? - ANS-- cleansing technique that
mechanically removes microorganisms as well as other debris to
reduce contamination to safe levels
- agents: soaps, detergents, commercial dishwashers
- common uses: cooking utensils, dishes, bottles, and cans
must be sanitized for reuse
What is antisepsis/degermation? What are some agents? What are
some common uses/key points? - ANS-- reduced the number of
microbes on human skin, form of decontamination but on living
tissues
- agents: alcohol, surgical hand scrubs
- common uses: scrubbing skin or immersing it in chemicals
What are the physical agents in microbial control methods? - ANS-
HEAT
- dry -> incineration + dry oven (sterilization)
- moist -> steam under pressure (sterilization) + boiling
water, hot water, pasteurization (disinfection)
RADIATION
- ionizing -> x-ray, cathode, gamma (sterilization)
- nonionizing -> UV (disinfection)
What are the chemical agents in microbial control methods? - ANS-
GASES
- sterilization + disinfection
LIQUIDS
- on animate objects (antisepsis)
EXAM 2026 UPDATE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+
What are the methods of microbial control used outside of the body?
- ANS-1. sterilization: complete removal or destruction of living
microorganisms
2. disinfection: destruction or removal of vegetative
pathogens but not bacterial endospores
3. decontamination (sanitation): mechanical removal of most
microbes
4. antisepsis (degermation): chemicals applied to body
surfaces to destroy or inhibit vegetative pathogens
What is sterilization? What are some agents? What are some
common uses? - ANS-- process that destroys/removes all living
microorganisms (including viruses), goals is to destruction of
bacterial endospores
- agents: heat (autoclave), sterilants (chemical agents
capable of destroying endospores)
- common uses: surgical instruments, syringes, commercially
packaged foods
What is disinfection? What are some agents? What are some
common uses? - ANS-- physical process or a chemical agent to
destroy vegetative pathogens but not bacterial endospores,
removes harmful products of microorganisms (toxins) from
material
- agents: bleach, iodine, heat (boiling)
, - common uses: boiling food utensils, applying 5% bleach
solution to an examining table, immersing thermometers in iodine
solution between uses
What is decontamination/sanitation? What are some agents? What
are some common uses? - ANS-- cleansing technique that
mechanically removes microorganisms as well as other debris to
reduce contamination to safe levels
- agents: soaps, detergents, commercial dishwashers
- common uses: cooking utensils, dishes, bottles, and cans
must be sanitized for reuse
What is antisepsis/degermation? What are some agents? What are
some common uses/key points? - ANS-- reduced the number of
microbes on human skin, form of decontamination but on living
tissues
- agents: alcohol, surgical hand scrubs
- common uses: scrubbing skin or immersing it in chemicals
What are the physical agents in microbial control methods? - ANS-
HEAT
- dry -> incineration + dry oven (sterilization)
- moist -> steam under pressure (sterilization) + boiling
water, hot water, pasteurization (disinfection)
RADIATION
- ionizing -> x-ray, cathode, gamma (sterilization)
- nonionizing -> UV (disinfection)
What are the chemical agents in microbial control methods? - ANS-
GASES
- sterilization + disinfection
LIQUIDS
- on animate objects (antisepsis)
