Lecture 8.0

• What theory increased awareness of nosocomial infections?


  Germ Theory of Disease
• Why is asepsis important in medical practice?

  To prevent contamination of wounds and instruments
• Who are the pioneers of asepsis?

  • Ignaz Semmelweis
  • Joseph Lister
• What was Ignaz Semmelweis's profession?

  Obstetrician
• What did Semmelweis enforce among hospital staff?

  Frequent hand washing
• What infection did Semmelweis aim to reduce?

  Childbirth fever
• What method did Joseph Lister pioneer?

  Antiseptic surgery
• What substance did Lister use during surgery?

  Phenolic compounds
• What did Lister promote for surgical instruments?

  Heat sterilization
• What event led Semmelweis to pioneer antiseptic policy?

  His friend's death from infection
• What did Lister realize about pus formation?

  It was due to bacteria
• What were early methods to control microbial growth?

  Salting, smoking, pickling, drying
• Why were spices used in cooking historically?

  To mask spoiled food taste
• What percentage of surgeries resulted in death due to nosocomial infections before aseptic techniques?

  10%
• What percentage of mothers died due to infection in hospitals?

  Up to 25%
• What does sepsis indicate?

  Presence of pathogens in blood or tissues
• What is asepsis?

  Absence of pathogens
• What is the purpose of antisepsis?

  Prevention of infection
• What are the components of aseptic techniques in medicine?

  1. Sterilization of Instruments
  2. Hand Hygiene
  3. Use of Sterile Drapes
  4. Sterile Environment
• What are the components of aseptic techniques in the food industry?

  1. Sterilization of Equipment
  2. Aseptic Packaging
  3. Hygienic Practices
  4. Controlled Environment
• What is the goal of sterile techniques?

  To exclude all microorganisms
• What is sterilization?

  Killing or removing all microbial life
• What is the most common method of sterilization?

  Heating
• What is commercial sterilization aimed at killing?

  Endospores of Clostridium botulinum
• What does disinfection achieve?

  Reduces pathogenic microorganisms
• What is a disinfectant used on?

  Inanimate objects
• What is an antiseptic used on?

  Living tissue
• What is degerming?

  Mechanical removal of most microbes
• What is the difference between disinfection and antisepsis?

  Disinfection removes organisms from surfaces
• What chemical is commonly used in antisepsis?

  Antibacterial washes
• What is another method of sterilization?

  Autoclaving
• Name a gas used for sterilization.

  Ethylene oxide
• What is a method of sterilization involving radiation?

  Certain types of radiation
• What does disinfection aim to achieve?

  Reduce pathogenic microorganisms to non-disease levels
• What types of pathogens are usually removed during disinfection?

  Vegetative or non-endospore forming pathogens
• What methods can be used for disinfection?

  Physical or chemical methods
• What is a disinfectant?

  Applied to inanimate objects
• What is an antiseptic?

  Applied to living tissue
• What is degerming?

  Mechanical removal of most microbes in a limited area
• What is the difference between disinfection and antisepsis?

  • Disinfection: Removal of harmful organisms from surfaces using chemicals.
  • Antisepsis: Removal of harmful organisms from skin using less harsh chemicals.