Microbiology for Mortuary Science, Chapter 23
Hexachlorophene
450 times more effective as a germicide than phenol. Now only available with an RX; is an ingredient in several commercial embalming chemicals
Chlorine
A gas that is combined with water to form sodium hypochlorite. Household bleach contains about 5 % sodium hypochlorite, making it several hundred times stronger than needed to kill most disease causing microorganisms
Temperature
A physical method to control the growth of microorganisms
Chemical Methods of Controlling Microorganisms
Antimicrobial agents ending in -cide are agents that will kill; those that end in -static are agents that will prevent growth
Heat
Can be used to control the growth of microorganisms by incineration, dry heat and moist heat
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics that damage cellular membranes and denature microbial proteins. Drawback is that they are deactivated in the presence of soaps and other organic matter or any alkaline substance
Glutaraldehyde
Cold chemical sterilant when activated in a 2% solution which is germicidal in 10 minutes and kills endospores in 3-12 hours.
Cresols
Commonly used in mortuary disinfectants because they work well in the presence of other organic compounds. Used to produce Lysol.
Iodophore
Compound of iodine and a surfactant such as a detergent that can slowly release the free iodine. Betadine is a common iodophore
Formalin
Concentrated liquid form of formaldehyde use as disinfectant. 37% formaldehyde by mass and 40% formaldehyde by volume - extremely concentrated form of formaldehyde
Iodine
Controls microbial growth by oxidizing certain molecules within the microbial cell. Can be used as a tincture or iodophore
Disinfection
Destruction of pathogenic agents by chemical or physical means directly applied to an inanimate object
Cremation
Form of incineration. Human remains are placed in a retort and temperature of approximately 1600 degrees F is maintained until complete combustion takes place.
UV Light
Form of nonionizing radiation that can effectively control the growth of microorganisms placed directly in its path.
Aldehydes
Group of organic compounds that control microbial growth by reacting to proteins in microorganisms and altering their chemical structure.
Sterilization
Highest level of microbial growth control. Completely removes or destroys all life forms, endospores or their products
Phenolic Compounds
Includes phenol (carbolic acid) cresols (Lysol) and hexachlorophene; controls microbial growth by denaturing proteins & disrupting cell membranes
Carbolic Acid
Joseph Lister first used Phenol as a disinfectant during surgery to disinfect wounds.
Germicides
Kill a variety of different types of microorganisms but not necessarily their spores
Bactericides
Kill bacteria but not necessarily their spores
Fungicides
Kill both fungi and their spores
Insecticides
Kill insects
Larvicides
Kill larvae
Viricides
Kill viruses
Bacterial Endospores
Killed at 15 psi at 121 degrees C for 15 minutes
Sporicides
Kills bacterial and mold spores
Thermal Death Point
Lowest temperature at which all microorganisms are killed in 10 minutes.
Scrubbing
Manual process by which microorganisms are removed from a surface
Thermal Death Time
Minimum time it takes to kill all microorganisms present
Alcohol
Often added to other disinfectants such as iodine, chlorhexidine and quaternary ammonium compounds
Antisepsis
Preventing or inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms
Dry Heat
Requires much more exposure time than moist heat methods of decontamination. Proteins do not denature as easily when they are dry.
Three levels of controlling microbial growth
Sterilization; Disinfection; Antisepsis
Moist Heat
Three methods of moist heat decontamination are boiling, free flowing steam and steam under pressure.
Decimal Reduction Time
Time it takes in minutes to kill 90% of all present microorganisms.
Benzalkonium Chloride
Topical antiseptic used on skin before surgery.
Incineration
Used most frequently in funeral homes to treat hazardous waste. To be effective, all of the waste matter must be incinerated
Halogens
Widely used disinfectants that work by oxidizing the components of microbial cells. Six elements- hydrogen, astatine, fluorine, chlorine, bromline and iodine.
