CH 07 Control of Microbial Growth.pdf - Chapter 7: Control...

Chapter 7: Control of Microbial Growth
Control of Microbial Growth
Actions of
Antimicrobial
Agents
Microbial
Characteristics
& Control
Physical
Methods of
Control
Chemical
Methods of
Control
Terminology

Controlling Microbial Growth
• The prevention, elimination, or control of microbes is
important in reducing the exposure to pathogenic microbes.
– Sterilization: removal/destruction of all living microbes
– Disinfection: killing of vegetative pathogens on a
surface (inanimate objects); usually w/chemicals
– Antisepsis: reduction of pathogens
from living tissue (sepsis /asepsis)
– Degerming: removal of transient microbes from skin by mechanical
cleansing or by an antiseptic.
– Sanitation: reduction of microbial populations on objects to safe levels

• Effect of antimicrobial treatments
 Bacteriostatic
 Bacteriocidal
• Exposure to antimicrobials reduces
cell numbers in an exponential
fashion  negative curve
• Factors influencing efficacy of
antimicrobial treatments:
– Number/types of microbes present
– Organic load
– Exposure time/dose
– pH, temperature

Physical & Chemical Agents of Control