Download PDF Microbiological Applications Lab Manual, Eighth

Sinopsis

Various terms such as sterilization, disinfection, germicides, sepsis, and aseptic techniques will be used here. To be sure that you understand exactly what they mean, the following definitions are provided. Sterilization is a process in which all living microorganisms, including viruses, are destroyed. The organisms may be killed with steam, dry heat, or incineration. If we say an article is sterile, we understand that it is completely free of all living microorganisms. Generally speaking, when we refer to sterilization as it pertains here to laboratory safety, we think, primarily, in terms of steam sterilization with the autoclave. The ultimate method of sterilization is to burn up the infectious agents or incinerate them. All biological wastes must ultimately be incinerated for disposal. Disinfection is a process in which vegetative, nonsporing microorganisms are destroyed. Agents that cause disinfection are called disinfectants or germicides. Such agents are used only on inanimate objects because they are toxic to human and animal tissues. Sepsis is defined as the growth (multiplication) of microorganisms in tissues of the body. The term asepsis refers to any procedure that prevents the entrance of infectious agents into sterile tissues, thus preventing infection. Aseptic techniques refer to those practices that are used by microbiologists to exclude all organisms from contaminating media or contacting living tissues. Antiseptics are chemical agents (often dilute disinfectants) that can be safely applied externally to human tissues to destroy or inhibit vegetative bacteria.

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