Sterilization: terminologies and principles

All live bacteria, including viruses, are destroyed or removed during sterilization. Any item that has gone through this process is referred to as sterile.These terminology should only be applied to sterilization treatments that have been proven to work. An thing can't be almost sterile or slightly sterile; it's either sterile or not.

Control methods

Sterilizing tissues within a living organism would necessitate such rigorous treatment that it would be extremely dangerous and unfeasible.

Many sections or regions of the body are inherently free of microorganisms, such as the brain and most internal organs.

Sterilization isn't always possible or essential, and only specific types of microorganisms are a worry. Some antimicrobials kill just the vulnerable vegetative stages of microorganisms, leaving the more resistant endospore and cyst stages unharmed. Keep in mind that spore destruction isn't always necessary because non-spore-forming microorganisms cause the majority of infectious diseases in humans and animals.

Agents that kill microbes

The root -cide, which means "to kill," can be used to describe an antimicrobial agent that is designed to kill a specific group of microorganisms. A bactericide, for example, is a substance that kills all bacteria except those in the endospore stage.

Other microbial groups may or may not be affected. A fungicide is a substance that kills fungus, hyphae, and yeasts. Any substance that is known to inactivate viruses, particularly on living tissue, is referred to as a virucide. A sporicidal agent can kill bacterial endospores, making it a sterilizing agent as well.

Germicides, Disinfection, Antisepsis

Any chemical substance that destroys harmful microorganisms is known as a germicide, sometimes known as a microbicide. A germicide can be used on both inanimate (nonliving) and living (living) items, however it usually won't destroy resistant microbial cells. Germicidal characteristics refer to any physical or chemical agent that kills "germs."

Disinfection* is a word that describes the employment of a physical technique or a chemical substance (a disinfectant) to kill vegetative pathogens but not bacterial endospores.It's vital to remember that disinfectants are usually exclusively used on inanimate items because they might be hazardous to live tissue at the amounts needed to be effective. Disinfection techniques can also eliminate microorganisms' toxic products (toxins) from materials. Applying a diluted bleach solution on an examination table, exposing drinking water to UV rays, and pasteurizing milk with heat are all examples of disinfection.

Sepsis is now described as the proliferation of microorganisms in the blood and other tissues. Asepsis* is a term that refers to any practice that prevents infectious agents from entering sterile tissues and thereby preventing infection.

From sterile treatments that eliminate all bacteria to antisepsis, aseptic techniques are widely used in health care. To kill or inhibit vegetative microorganisms, antiseptics are applied directly to exposed body surfaces (skin and mucous membranes), wounds, and surgical incisions in antisepsis.

Examples of antisepsis include pre- paring the skin before surgical incisions with iodine compounds, swabbing a wound with hydrogen peroxide, and ordinary hand washing with a germicidal soap.