Sterilization, Disinfection, Asepsis, Antisepsis,
Heat and Chemical Methods, Moist and Dry Heat,
Autoclaving, Pasteurization, Radiation, Filtration,
Endospore Resistance, Bacterial Morphology, Gram
Staining, Acid-Fast Staining, Spore Formation,
Antibiotic Mechanisms, Antimicrobial Resistance,
Surface-Active Agents, Heavy Metals, Oxidizing
Agents, Halogens, Alcohols, Aldehydes, Quaternary
Ammonium Compounds, pH and Temperature
Effects, Osmotic Stress, Psychrophiles to
Hyperthermophiles, Opportunistic Pathogens,
Normal Flora, Lysozyme Activity, UV Germicidal
Control, and Laboratory and Clinical Applications of
Microbial Suppression Exam Questions Verified and
Provided with A+ Graded Rationales Latest
Updated 2026
Ignatz Semmelweiz and Joseph Lister
first introduced the concept of microbial control
semmelweiz
required all personnel at the obstetrics ward in the Vienna General Hospital to wash their hands
with chlorinated lime
lister
initiated aseptic surgery which included heat sterilization of surgical instruments and the
application of phenol (carbolic acid) to wounds following surgery
microbial control
is needed to prevent the transmission of infection, contamination, and spoilage.
-it does not always mean killing the microbes; the microbes could be inhibited or removed
,sterilization
the process of destroying or removing all forms of microbial life on an object or in a material,
including the destruction of endospores. NOT PRIONS
moist heat
121ºC for 15 minutes at 15 PSI
moist heat;
dry heat;
ionizing radiation;
gasses such as ethylene oxide
methods of sterilization
dry heat
170ºC for 120 minutes
sterilization
is absolute, has no degrees
disinfection
the process of destroying vegetative pathogens, but not necessarily endospores or viruses
disinfectant
is usually a chemical applied to an object or a material;
-tend to reduce or inhibit growth.
-are usually a liquid chemical solution applied to a surface or to eliminate pathogens in water.
ex: chlorination
antisepsis
refers to chemical disinfection of the skin, mucous membranes , or other living tissues;
-term applied to the treatment of wounds
antiseptic
the chemical used in antisepsis treatment
germicide
chemical agent that rapidly kills microbes but not necessarily their endospores
, bacteriocide;
sporicide;
fungicide;
virucide;
ameobicide
forms of germicide
sterilization;
disinfection;
germicide
terms related to destruction of organism
bacteriostasis;
fungistasis;
asepsis;
degerming;
sanitization
terms related to suppression of organisms
bacteriostasis
condition in which bacterial growth and multiplication are inhibited, but the bacteria are not
killed;
ex refrigiration
bacteriostatic
if ___ agent is removed, bacterial growth and multiplication may resume
bacteriostatic
many chemicals, such as dyes, are ___
fungistasis
refers to the inhibition of fungal growth
asepsis
(without infection) refers to the absence of pathogens from an object or area
sepsis
bacterial contamination