Control of Microbial Growth

(Sterilization and Disinfection)

Control of Microbial Growth

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Microbial Control
Can

inhibit growth of
many microorganisms
by washing and
scrubbing with soaps
and detergents.
www.enviroblog.org

Sterilization
Process

of removing
or killing all
microorganisms and
viruses on or in a
product.
Ensures complete

www.kendall-ltp.com

destruction of all
microorganisms,
including cells, spores,
and viruses.
www.medicalcareerinstitute.net

Examples of Sterilization
Dry

heat
Autoclaving
Gas
Various chemicals
Certain types of
radiation

Autoclave. www.lifelinemedical.net

Dry Heat Sterilization. www.kabdental.com

Disinfection
Process

that reduces # of
potential disease-causing bacteria
and viruses on a material until
they no longer present a hazard.

Terms

decontamination and
sanitation mean the same thing
generally.

Disinfectant
A chemical used to disinfect

inanimate objects.

Example of Disinfection Pasteurization

Method

of
disinfecting liquids.

Heat

liquids to a
certain temperature.

Does

not totally
destroy pathogens.

Pasteurization Equipment.
www.foodprocessing-technology.com

Decontamination
Inactivation

or removal of both microbial

toxins and the living microbial pathogens.

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Antiseptic
Solutions

used to
disinfect skin and
other living tissues.

www.firstaid-direct.co.uk

Sanitation
Reduction

of
microbial populations
to levels considered
safe by public health
standards.

www.zerrenterprises.com

Microbicidal Agents
The

suffix cide or cidal refers to

killing.
Ex. Microbicidal agents (microbicides)
Ex. Bactericidal agents
Ex. Sporicidal agents
Ex. Viricidal agents

Microbistatic Agents
Microbistatic Agent

Drug or chemical that inhibits the growth and reproduction

of microorganisms.

Bacteriostatic Agent

One that specifically inhibits the metabolism and

reproduction of bacteria.

Microbistatic

technique examples

Ex. Lyophilization (freeze-drying)

Ex. Rapid freezing (using liquid nitrogen)

 Sepsis

Some Useful Terms

Presence of pathogens in blood or tissues.

Asepsis

Absence of pathogens.
Ex. Hand washing; use of sterile gloves,
masks, gowns; sterilization of surgical
equipment; use of disinfectants.

Antisepsis

Prevention of infection.

Antiseptic

technique

Developed by Joseph Lister (1867).

Use of antiseptics.
mateengreenway.com

Sterile Technique
Practice

of excluding all microorganisms

from a particular area, so that the area will
be sterile.

bioweb.wku.edu

Controlling Microbial Growth

Using Physical Methods
Methods

used to destroy or inhibit microbial

growth may be physical or chemical.
Examples:
Heat
Combination of heat and pressure
Desiccation
Radiation
Sonic disruption
Filtration

Heat
Practical,

efficient, and inexpensive method of

sterilization.

factors that influence effectiveness of heat for

sterilization: temperature and time
Thermal Death Point (TDP)

Lowest temperature that will kill all organisms in a

standardized pure culture within a specified period.
Thermal Death Time (TDT)
Length of time necessary to sterilize a pure culture at a specified

temperature.

Dry Heat
Heating

materials in absence
of moisture.

Must

be baked at 160 to
165C for 2 hours or at 170
to 180C for 1 hour.

Other

methods include
incineration and flaming
surface of metal materials
like forceps and loops.

biology.clc.uc.edu

Moist Heat
Boiling

or steaming.

Most

pathogens destroyed
after 30 minutes of
boiling.

Boiling. ttt.astro.su.se

Boiling

not always
effective against some
endospores and viruses.

Boiling

not an option for

thermophiles.
Steamer. www.appliancist.com

Autoclaving
Large

metal pressure
cooker that uses steam
under pressure to
completely destroy all
microorganisms.

Increased

pressure
raises the temperature
of boiling water (i.e.
above 100C)
producing steam.

www.uwm.edu

Home Canning
Use

of a pressure
cooker.

If

foods canned
without pressure some
bacterial endospores
may survive.

www.thecookwarebarn.com

i.e.

Clostridium
botulinum
Bulging lid botulism.
calorielab.com

Disinfecting Techniques
For

clothing, bedding, and

dishes

Use

hot water with soap or

detergent

Agitate

items

solution around

Combination

of heat,
mechanical action, and
chemical inhibition kills
most microbes.

Washing Machine.
www.genexe.com

Cold
Metabolic

activities slowed.

Most

microbes not killed, but growth

inhibited.

Slow

freezing not a good way to

preserve bacteriological or biologic
specimen.

www.themodernapprentice.com

Slow Freezing.

Rapid

freezing (liquid nitrogen) good

for this.

Why

should you not refreeze foods?

Rapid Freezing
liquid nitrogen.
encarta.msn.com

Desiccation
Process

of drying materials.

Many

microbes can remain

viable despite absence of
nutrients and moisture.

Ex.

Lyophilization (freezedrying)

Dried

blood, fecal material, and

dust may still contain viable
microbes.

www.mahalo.com

Radiation
Ultraviolet

(UV) light sometimes used to

prevent or decrease microbial growth.
X-rays and gamma and beta rays may be
used to destroy or prevent microbial
growth.

www.fda.gov

www.moondragon.org

Ultrasonic Waves
Often

used to sterilize and clean delicate equipment.

Consists

of tanks filled with liquid solvent (usually

water).
Short

sound waves are passed through liquid.

Sound

waves dislodge organic debris.

Materials

must then be washed and sterilized by

another method.

Filtration
Filters

of various pore sizes are

used to filter or separate larger
cells, larger viruses, bacteria,
and other microbes from gases
or liquids in which they are
suspended.

wps.prenhall.com

Paper

masks used to prevent the

outward and inward movement
of microbes.
health.howstuffworks.com

Gaseous Atmosphere
Altering

atmosphere of microbes to inhibit

growth.

Hyperbaric Chamber.
www.perlhealth.com

Gas gangrene caused

by Clostridium spp.
www.humanillnesses.com

Chemical Agents Used to Inhibit

Microbial Growth
Temporarily

or permanently.

Different

disinfectants have different

properties.

Disinfectants

should be chosen based on

their efficiency and effectiveness for a
particular situation.

What Are Some Things to

Consider When Choosing a
Chemical Disinfectant?

What makes an Ideal Chemical

Antimicrobial Agent?

How Do Disinfectants Kill

Microorganisms?
Some

Ex. Surface-active soaps and detergents; alcohols

Some

target and destroy cell membranes.

destroy enzymes and structural proteins.

Ex. Formaldehyde and ethylene oxide

Some

attack cell walls or nucleic acids.

Antiseptics
Can

be used safely on
human skin.

Reduces

# of organisms
on the surface.
www.superstock.com

Does

not penetrate pores

or hair follicles.

Preventing Growth of Pathogens

in Our Kitchens

www.homesteadwoodworks.ca

The Antibiotic Controversy

www.smh.com.au

www.ferret.com.au

The End