Micropara2

• What is the primary goal of microbial control?

  To inhibit or prevent the growth of microorganisms.
• What are the two basic ways of microbial control?


  • By killing microorganisms
  • By inhibiting the growth of microorganisms
• What are cidal agents?

  Agents that kill bacterial cells.
• What does bactericidal refer to?

  It refers to killing bacteria.
• What are static agents?

  Agents that inhibit the growth of bacterial cells.
• What does bacteriostatic refer to?

  It refers to inhibiting the growth of bacterial cells.
• Why is controlling microbial growth important?

  • Important in the medical field
  • Crucial for pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries
  • Essential in academic research
  • Necessary in the food industry
• How does each antimicrobial substance achieve microbial elimination?

  Each achieves a different level of microbial elimination by a certain mechanism.
• What are the two main types of microbial control methods?

  • Physical Method: Uses heat, cold treatment, and radiation.
  • Chemical Method: Uses chemical agents on living tissues (antiseptics) and inanimate objects (disinfectants).
• What are disinfectants?

  Substances applied to non-living objects to destroy microorganisms living on them.
• Give examples of disinfectants.

  Alcohol, chlorine compounds, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, iodophors.
• What are antiseptics?

  Antimicrobial substances applied to living tissue or skin to reduce the possibility of infection.
• Give examples of antiseptics.

  Chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine, chloroxylenol, isopropyl alcohol, hexachlorophene, benzalkonium chloride, hydrogen peroxide.
• What is the role of antimicrobial substances?

  • Active against bacteria
  • Important for fighting bacterial infections
  • Widely used in treatment and prevention
• What are microbicides?

  Agents that destroy virus particles, also called viricides or antivirals.
• What does asepsis refer to?

  The absence of infectious material or infection.
• What are the two categories of asepsis?

  • Surgical Asepsis
  • Medical Asepsis
• What is sterile/aseptic technique?

  • Specific practices to make equipment and areas free from all microorganisms.
  • Commonly practiced in operating rooms and special procedures.
• Why is sterile technique essential?

  To help prevent surgical site infections (SSI).
• What is surgical asepsis?

  The absence of all microorganisms within any type of invasive procedure.
• When is surgical asepsis applied?

  • During all invasive procedures when the skin is not intact.
  • When internal areas of the body are being entered (e.g., endoscopy, laparoscopic procedures).
• What are the principles of surgical asepsis?

  • All objects used in a sterile field must be sterile.
  • A sterile object becomes non-sterile when touched by a non-sterile object.
  • Sterile items below waist level are considered non-sterile.
  • Sterile fields must always be kept in sight.
  • Care must be taken to avoid contamination when opening sterile equipment.
• What are core medical aseptic practices?

  • Handwashing
  • Cleaning the environment
  • Wearing appropriate PPE
  • Disinfecting articles and surfaces
  • Use of antiseptics
• What is the statement regarding antibiotics and antimicrobial agents?

  All antibiotics are antimicrobial agents, but not all antimicrobial agents are antibiotics.
• What are chemical antimicrobial agents for external use divided into?

  Products for commercial applications and products designed to prevent growth of human pathogens.
• What does the term antiseptic refer to?

  Agents applied to living tissues to destroy or inhibit the growth of infectious microorganisms.
• How do antiseptics act on microbial cells?

  They dissolve microbial cells or penetrate cell walls to inactivate essential transport systems.
• What is the mode of action of some antimicrobial agents?

  They coagulate vital materials in cells or disrupt metabolism, causing cells to starve and die.
• Who discovered penicillin and when?

  Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in the early 1940s.
• What is selective toxicity?

  The ability to inhibit or kill a pathogen without affecting the host.
• What are sulfa drugs and who discovered them?

  Sulfa drugs inhibit the growth of bacteria and were discovered by Gerhard Domagk in the 1930s.
• What are nucleic acid base analogs?

  Compounds formed by the addition of bromine or fluorine that interfere with DNA synthesis.
• What are quinolones?

  Antibacterial compounds that interfere with DNA gyrase.
• What are the characteristics of naturally occurring antimicrobial drugs?

  • Naturally produced antimicrobial agents
  • Less than 1% are clinically useful
  • Can be modified to enhance efficacy
  • Susceptibility of microbes to antibiotics varies
• What are β-Lactam antibiotics?

  One of the most important groups of antibiotics, including penicillins and cephalosporins.
• What is the primary action of penicillins?

  They target cell wall synthesis and are primarily effective against gram-positive bacteria.
• What are cephalosporins and their primary use?

  Cephalosporins are produced by the fungus Cephalosporium and are commonly used to treat gonorrhea.
• What are aminoglycosides?

  Aminoglycosides are antibiotics that contain amino sugars and are considered reserve antibiotics due to neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.
• What are macrolides and their target?

  Macrolides contain lactone rings bonded to sugars and target the 50S subunit of ribosomes.
• What are tetracyclines and their action?

  Tetracyclines contain four rings and inhibit protein synthesis by targeting the 30S ribosomal subunit.