MICROBIAL CONTROL There are two categories of

TOPICS: antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agents:

1. Techniques for controlling pathogenic antibiotics and synthetic drugs.
microorganisms. ANTIBIOTICS
2. Surgical and medical asepsis. Are metabolic products of one
3. Antimicrobial agents in therapy. microorganism that inhibit or kill other
microorganisms.
CONTROL OF MICROORGANISMS CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC SYNTHETIC
It is essential in order to prevent the DRUGS
transmission of diseases and infection, stop Are antimicrobial drugs synthesized by
decomposition and spoilage, and prevent chemical procedures in the laboratory. Many of
unwanted microbial contamination. today's antibiotics are now actually
● Microorganisms are controlled by means semi-synthetic and some are even made
of physical agents and chemical agents. synthetically.
● PHYSICAL AGENTS include such
methods of control as high or low STERILIZATION
temperature, desiccation, osmotic Is the process of destroying all living
pressure, radiation, and filtration. organisms and viruses.
● Control by CHEMICAL AGENTS DISINFECTION
refers to the use of disinfectants, Is the elimination of microorganisms, but
antiseptics, antibiotics, and not necessarily endospores, from inanimate
chemotherapeutic antimicrobial objects or surfaces.
chemicals. DECONTAMINATION
Is the treatment of an object or inanimate
DEFINE THE FOLLOWING: surface to make it safe to handle.
SELECTIVE TOXICITY DISINFECTANT
Means that the chemical being used Is an agent used to disinfect inanimate
should inhibit or kill the intended pathogen objects but generally too toxic to use on human
without seriously harming the host. tissues.
A BROAD SPECTRUM AGENT ANTISEPTIC
Is one generally effective against a variety Is an agent that kills or inhibits growth of
of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. microbes but is safe to use on human tissue.
NARROW SPECTRUM AGENT SANITIZER
Generally works against just Is an agent that reduces microbial
Gram-positives, Gram-negatives, or only a few numbers to a safe level.
bacteria. As mentioned above, such agents may PHYSICAL AGENTS
be cidal or static in their action. Are sources of energy that may cause
CIDAL AGENT injury or disease.
Kills the organism while a static agent Examples include:
inhibits the organism's growth long enough for ● Noise
body defenses to remove it. ● Vibration
● Radiation
● Extremes in temperature
TECHNIQUES FOR CONTROLLING WHAT ARE 3 TYPES OF STERILIZATION?
PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS Three primary methods of medical
sterilization occur from high temperature/
Basic terms used in discussing pressure and chemical processes.
the control of microorganisms  ● Plasma Gas Sterilizers.
include: ● Autoclaves.
● Sterilization ● Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilizers.
● Disinfection
● Decontamination DOES STERILIZATION KILL ALL
● Disinfectant MICROORGANISMS?
● Antiseptic ● A sterile surface/object is completely free
● Sanitizer of living microorganisms and viruses.
● Antibiotic ● Sterilization procedures kill all
● Chemotherapeutic synthetic drugs microorganisms.
● Methods used in sterilization procedures
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT include:
MICROORGANISMS FROM GROWING? ○ Heat
● Pickling, drying, and exposure of food ○ Ethylene oxide gas
and clothing to sunlight to ○ Hydrogen peroxide gas
control microbial growth. ○ Plasma ozone
● Spoiled food. Some spices prevented ○ Radiation
spoilage.
● Sterilization: Killing or removing all WHY IS AUTOCLAVING THE BEST
forms of microbial life (including METHOD OF STERILIZATION?
endospores) in a material or an object. ● Wet Heat (Autoclaving)
● This is a very effective method that kills
WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL METHODS all microbes, spores, and viruses,
OF STERILIZATION? although, for some specific bugs,
1. HEAT especially high temperatures or incubation
● Moist Heat Sterilization. At temperatures times are required.
below 100°C. At a temperature of 100°C.
At temperatures above 100°C. HOW DOES AUTOCLAVING KILL
● Dry heat sterilization. Red Heat. Flaming. BACTERIA?
Incineration. The heat that an autoclave delivers via
2. FILTRATION pressurized steam kills bacteria and other
● Filtration sterilization of liquids.  microorganisms by causing the organisms'
● Filtration sterilization of gases. structural proteins and enzymes to lose their
3. RADIATION shape in an irreversible way, denaturing and
● Ultraviolet (non-ionizing) radiation. coagulating them and making them
● Ionizing Radiation. (gamma and nonfunctional.
electron-beam radiation)

HEAT
● Heating is one of the most common—and
oldest—forms of microbial control. It
is used in simple techniques like cooking
and canning.
● Heat can kill microbes by altering their
membranes and denaturing proteins.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
STERILIZATION AND DISINFECTION?
Disinfection & sterilization =
both decontamination processes.

● While disinfection is the process of

eliminating or reducing harmful
microorganisms from inanimate objects
and surfaces, sterilization is the process
of killing all microorganisms.

DECONTAMINATION
DISINFECTION The neutralization or removal of
It is the treatment of surfaces/equipment dangerous substances, radioactivity, or germs
using physical or chemical means such that the from an area, object, or person.
amount of microorganisms present is reduced to ● Three basic methods of decontamination
an acceptable level.  are:
● Disinfection reduces the amount of ○ Physical Removal
remaining microorganisms. Application ○ Chemical Deactivation
of the right type of agent is important to ○ Biological Deactivation of the
achieve the desired chemical effect. agent.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF
WHAT ARE 2 METHODS OF DECONTAMINATION?
DISINFECTION? Decontamination is a series
Generally, two methods of of processes that effectively remove or destroy
disinfection are used: chemical and physical. infectious agents or other contaminants (e.g.
organic matter) in order to prevent the spread of
THE CHEMICAL METHODS - use chemical infection.
agents. Historically, the most widely used
chemical agent is chlorine. WHAT ARE THE 3 STEPS OF THE
THE PHYSICAL METHODS - use physical DECONTAMINATION PROCESS?
agents. (radiation, heat) There are three levels of
decontamination: 
● Cleaning
● Disinfection
● Sterilization.

DISINFECTANT
It is a chemical liquid that destroys
bacteria.
WHAT ARE COMMON CHEMICAL
DISINFECTANTS?
● Alcohol.
● Chlorine and chlorine compounds.
● Formaldehyde.
● Glutaraldehyde.
● Hydrogen peroxide.
● Iodophors.
● Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA)
● Peracetic acid.
WHAT IS THE BEST SKIN
DISINFECTANT?
The most commonly used agents include
alcohol-based solutions, chlorhexidine gluconate,
and iodophors such as Povidone-iodine. 
● ALCOHOL is an excellent germicidal
against bacteria, viruses, and fungi;
however, its benefit is limited by its
flammability and lack of residual
germicidal activity. 10% Betadine - Antiseptic
7.5% - soap

SANITIZER
A substance used to make something
clean and hygienic.
● A substance or preparation for killing
germs, designed for use especially on
food-processing equipment.

❖ Hand sanitizer may reduce the movement

of the sperm cells or kill them on contact.

ANTISEPTIC
Relating to or denoting substances that
prevent the growth of disease-causing
microorganisms.
● An antiseptic is a substance that stops or
slows down the growth of
microorganisms. They're frequently used
in hospitals and other medical settings to
reduce the risk of infection during surgery
and other procedures.  ANTIBIOTIC
● Antiseptics just slow the growth of A medicine (such as penicillin or its
bacteria instead of actually killing it off. derivatives) that inhibits the growth of or
destroys microorganisms.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN ● Antibiotics are medicines that help stop
ANTISEPTIC? infections caused by bacteria. They do
Commonly used antiseptic agents in this by killing the bacteria or by keeping
dermatologic surgery include: them from copying themselves or
● Chlorhexidine reproducing.
● Povidone-iodine ● The word antibiotic means “against life.”
● Chloroxylenol ● Any drug that kills germs in your body is
● Isopropyl alcohol technically an antibiotic.
● Hexachlorophene
● Benzalkonium chloride, and
● Hydrogen peroxide.
population from greater concentrations of
the antibiotic.

CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC SYNTHETIC
DRUGS
Treatment that uses drugs to stop the
growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells
or by stopping them from dividing. 
● Chemotherapy may be given by mouth,
injection, or infusion, or on the skin,
depending on the type and stage of the
Antibiotics are metabolic products of one cancer being treated.
microorganism that inhibit or kill other
microorganisms. Why then do bacteria produce WHAT WILL DESTROY ALL
antibiotics? There is growing support for multiple MICROORGANISMS?
actions for microbial antibiotic production: ● A commonplace, everyday act of
1. If produced in large enough amounts, killing bacteria using moist heat is boiling
antibiotics may be used as a weapon to our drinking water.
inhibit or kill other microbes in the ● Iodine is one of the most effective
vicinity to reduce competition for food. germicidal agents. It is effective
2. Antibiotics produced in sublethal against all kinds of bacteria, as well as
quantities may function as interspecies spores, fungi and viruses.
quorum sensing molecules enabling a
number of different bacteria to form WHAT IS THE HARDEST
within a common biofilm where MICROORGANISM TO KILL?
metabolic end products of one organism PROTOZOAN CYSTS
may serve as a substrate for another. All Are the hardest to kill, with
the organisms are protected within the CRYPTOSPORIDIUM 
same biofilm. Being harder to kill than Giardia.
3. Antibiotics produced in sublethal
quantities may function as interspecies
quorum sensing molecules enabling some
bacteria to manipulate others to become
motile and swim away thus reducing the
competition for food.
4. Antibiotics action may result in the
degradation of bacterial cell walls or
DNA and these products can act as cues
that trigger other bacteria to produce a
protective biofilm.
5. Antibiotics produced in sublethal
quantities may trigger intraspecies Giardia intestinal is protozoan cysts
quorum sensing. Exposure to low
concentrations of an antibiotic may
trigger bacteria to produce quorum
sensing molecules that trigger the
population to produce a protective
biofilm. The biofilm then protects the
HOW DO YOU CONTROL PATHOGENS?
Decrease your risk of infecting yourself or
others:
● Wash your hands often.
● Get vaccinated.
● Use antibiotics sensibly.
● Stay at home if you have signs and
symptoms of an infection.
● Be smart about food preparation.
● Disinfect the 'hot zones' in your residence.
● Practice safer sex.
● Don't share personal items.
SURGICAL AND MEDICAL ASEPSIS
There are two types of asepsis:
MEDICAL OR CLEAN ASEPSIS 
Reduces the number of organisms and
prevents their spread.
SURGICAL OR STERILE ASEPSIS 
Includes procedures to eliminate
microorganisms from an area and is practiced
by surgical technologists and nurses.