Disinfection, Sterilization and Antisepsis

Disinfection

• Disinfection is the process of eliminating pathogenic agents on non-living objects using chemical or heat methods.

Bacteria in Refrigerators

• Psychrophiles are bacteria responsible for food spoilage in refrigerators.

Sterilization

• Sterilization is the process of eliminating all microorganisms, including bacteria, spores, viruses, and fungi.

Autoclave Sterilization

• Autoclave sterilization uses steam under pressure.

Glutaraldehyde

• An extended exposure to glutaraldehyde kills spores.

Ionizing Radiation

• Ionizing radiation is a physical antimicrobial method that penetrates and strips electrons from atoms, using X-rays or gamma rays, to sterilize fresh fruits.

Alcohols Used for Disinfection

• Isopropyl alcohol and ethanol are used as disinfectants in healthcare.

Antisepsis

• Antisepsis is disinfecting on living surfaces.

Cleaning Surfaces (Disinfection)

• Cleaning surfaces like lab benches, patient rooms, and bathrooms exemplifies disinfection.

Commercial Dishwashers (Sanitization)

• Commercial dishwashers exemplify sanitization.

Surgical Instruments (Sterilization)

• Preparing surgical instruments for surgery exemplifies sterilization.

Cleaning Skin (Antisepsis)

• Cleaning injured skin or preparing skin before surgery exemplifies antisepsis.

Speed of Sterilization Methods

• Dry heat is generally slower for sterilization compared to other methods.

Functions of Glutaraldehyde

• Glutaraldehyde functions in sterilizing surgical instruments and preserving tissues.

Pasteurization

• Pasteurization uses heat to kill most harmful bacteria in food; it does not sterilize.

Ionizing vs. Nonionizing Radiation

• Nonionizing radiation acts as a disinfectant, while ionizing radiation is a sterilant.

Iodine for Skin Prep

• Betadine, a form of iodine, is used as an antiseptic to prep skin before surgery.

Hydrogen Peroxide Form

• Hydrogen peroxide is used in gaseous form.

Ethylene Oxide

• Ethylene oxide requires 24 hours aeration for instruments.

Antibiotic Susceptibility

• Antibiotic susceptibility refers to the effectiveness of antibiotics against bacteria.

Vegetative Microorganisms

• Vegetative microorganisms are in their active, growing state.

Bacteriostatic Agents

• A bacteriostatic agent inhibits bacterial growth without necessarily killing them.

Antimicrobial Agents for Immunocompromised Patients

• Bactericidal agents are more suitable for treating patients with compromised immune systems.

Monitoring for Superinfections

• Monitoring for superinfection during antibiotic treatment is important to manage and treat emerging secondary infections.

Superinfection

• A superinfection is a secondary infection that occurs after broad-spectrum antibiotic use.

Synergistic Medications

• "Synergistic" refers to the enhanced effects when two drugs are used together.

Antagonist Drugs

• Antagonist drugs block the effects of neurotransmitters.

Azole Antifungals

• Azole antifungals exert their antifungal activity through the inhibition of ergosterol synthesis.

Antibiotic Resistance

• Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics due to under-prescription of the antibiotics.

Antibiotic Targets

• Protein synthesis is prevented if an antibiotic targets the ribosome.

Beta-Lactam Antibiotics

• Beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, primarily work through the inhibition of cell wall synthesis.

Aminoglycoside Antibiotics

• Aminoglycoside antibiotics, like gentamicin, primarily affect bacterial cells through the inhibition of protein synthesis.

Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics

• The mode of action of quinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, involves targeting DNA replication.

Sulfonamide Antibiotics

• Sulfonamide antibiotics primarily exert their bacteriostatic effect by blocking folic acid synthesis.

Mechanisms of Bacterial Resistance

• Mechanisms involved in bacterial resistance include decreased drug uptake, activation of drug-inactivating enzymes, and increased drug elimination.

Causes of Antibiotic Resistance

• Causes of antibiotic resistance include not finishing prescriptions, discarding antibiotics into the environment, and using antibiotics as prophylaxis for animals.

Contributing Factors to Antibiotic Resistance

• Antibiotic resistance can be caused by prescribing broad-spectrum drugs instead of narrow-spectrum drugs, and prescribing antibiotics for viral infections.

Examples of Bacteriostatic Antibiotics

• Chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and sulfonamides are examples of bacteriostatic antibiotics.

Additional Examples of Bacteriostatic Antibiotics

• Further examples of bacteriostatic antibiotics include chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and erythromycin.

Examples of Bactericidal Antibiotics

• Flucloxacillin, and amoxycillin are types of bactericidal antibiotics.

Diagnosing Meningitis

• A lumbar puncture is the diagnostic procedure for meningitis.

Diagnosing Encephalitis

• Encephalitis is diagnosed via spinal tap to remove CSF.

Encephalitis Defined

• Encephalitis is the inflammation of the brain.

Common Bacteria Causing Bacterial Meningitis

• Meningococcus and pneumococcus are common bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis.

Another Common Bacteria Causing Meningitis

• Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacteria that causes meningitis.

Nuchal Rigidity

• Nuchal rigidity involves pain and stiffness of the neck.

Otitis Media Defined

• Otitis media is a middle ear infection.

Myringotomy

• Myringotomy is a surgical procedure involving a tiny incision in the eardrum.

Keratitis Defined

• Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea.

Common Pathogen for Adult Bacterial Conjunctivitis

• S. aureus is the most common pathogen for bacterial conjunctivitis in adults.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis Severity

• Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a severe type of bacterial conjunctivitis that can lead to blindness if untreated.

Trachoma Defined

• Trachoma is a bacterial infection causing vision difficulty.

Endocarditis Defined

• Endocarditis occurs when bacteria travels via blood and lodges on heart valves, or it can be defined as inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.

Endocarditis Causes

• Endocarditis is caused by IV drug use, tooth abscesses or dental procedures.

Risk Factors for Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSI)

• Risk factors for catheter-related bloodstream infections include the site of catheter insertion and its duration.

Key Intervention for Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections

• Catheter removal is the most important intervention when treating catheter-related bloodstream infections.

Central Line Site and CRBSI Risk

• The femoral vein is associated with a greater risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections.

Key Differences Between Cellulitis and Erysipelas

• Cellulitis affects the lower dermis and subcutaneous tissue, while erysipelas is an infection of the upper dermis and lymphatics of the skin.

Common Cause of Whooping Cough

• Bordatella pertussis commonly causes whooping cough.

Signs and Symptoms of Whooping Cough

• Rapid cough, vomiting, and exhaustion indicates whooping cough.

High Risk for Osteomyelitis

• An open fracture of the arm presents a high risk for osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis Defined

• Osteomyelitis is an infection in the bones due to bacterial spread from the blood.

Priority Teaching for Osteomyelitis

• Aseptic technique to prevent wound contamination is a priority teaching for osteomyelitis.

Primary Treatment for Osteomyelitis

• IV antibiotic therapy is the primary method for treating osteomyelitis.

Main Pathogenic Cause of Septic Arthritis

• Staphylococcus aureus is the main pathogenic cause of septic arthritis.

Cause of Septic Arthritis

• Septic arthritis is caused by infection of a joint, often due to MRSA during surgery.

Diagnosing Septic Arthritis

• Aspiration of fluid at the joint is the best test to diagnose the cause of septic arthritis.

Cholecystitis Location

• The gall bladder is affected by cholecystitis.

Signs and Symptoms of Cholecystitis

• Pain in the right upper quadrant or right shoulder are signs and symptoms of cholecystitis.

Common Bacterial Cause of Cholecystitis

• E. coli is the most common bacterial causative organism for cholecystitis.

Treatment for Cholecystitis

• Treatment for cholecystitis includes laparoscopic surgery, pain medications, and a low-fat diet.

HAI Abbreviation

• HAI stands for healthcare-associated infection.

Common HAI Infections

• Skin infections (wound or IV site), gastro-intestinal system infections (nausea, diarrhea), urinary tract infections, and respiratory system infections (colds, pneumonia, bronchitis, flu) are all common HAI infections.

Common Cause of HAIs

• Transmission of germs on the hands of healthcare workers is a common cause of Health Care-Associated Infections (HAIs).

Organisms Common in Sinusitis, URTI, or Oral Infections

• Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus), E. coli, and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are common in sinusitis, URTI, or oral infections.

Lines of Defense

• There are 3 lines of defense.

1st Line of Defense

• The 1st line of defense includes skin and mucous membranes (innate).

2nd Line of Defense

• The 2nd line of defense is inflammatory (innate).

Additional 2nd Line of Defense Components

• Further components of the 2nd line of defense are interferon, inflammatory response (including fever), the complement system (antimicrobial proteins), and phagocytosis.

3rd Line of Defense

• The 3rd line of defense involves antibody production (adaptive), and the lymphatic system.

Chemotaxis Defined

• Chemotaxis is the process of leukocytes traveling to an infected wound site, moving from areas of low concentration to high concentration using chemical signals.

Phagocytosis Defined

• Phagocytosis is engulfing pathogens.

Pyrexia Defined

• Pyrexia is the medical term for fever.

Natural Active Immunity

• Natural active immunity follows exposure to a specific antigen.

Natural Passive Immunity

• Natural passive immunity is passed from mother to baby.

Artificial Passive Immunity

• Artificial passive immunity includes antibodies created by an artificial external source.

Artificial Active Immunity

• Artificial active immunity involves creating own antibodies from vaccination.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG)

• Immunoglobulin G makes up 75% of all immunoglobulins, crosses the placenta during pregnancy, and provides resistance against many viruses, bacteria, and bacterial toxins.

Function of Immunoglobulin E (IgE)

• Immunoglobulin E is involved in allergic responses.

Function of Immunoglobulin A (IgA)

• Immunoglobulin A protects mucous membranes against bacteria and viruses, and is primarily found in glandular secretions.

Function of Immunoglobulin M (IgM)

• Immunoglobulin M is star shaped; the first type secreted after antigen challenge.

Cellular Immunity

• Cellular immunity is the production of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes.

Humoral Immunity

• B-cells produce humoral immunity.

Memory B Cells

• Memory B cells express the BCR, but do not secrete antibody.

Memory B Cells Role

• Memory B cells remember how to make an antibody for a specific pathogen, giving specific immunity.