60 Questions
What size of microbes can high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters remove from air?
0.3 micrometer
What do germicidal chemicals react irreversibly with?
Proteins, DNA, cytoplasmic membranes, or viral envelopes
Which organization is responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of chemicals used to treat medical devices in the United States?
FDA
What do germicidal chemicals do?
Disinfect and sometimes sterilize
What is the definition of sterilization?
Removal of all microorganisms and viruses, including endospores
What is the purpose of pasteurization?
To reduce the number of spoilage organisms and destroy pathogens without changing the characteristics of the product
What is the purpose of decontamination?
To reduce the number of pathogens to a safe level
What is the role of antiseptics?
To be used on living tissues to kill or inhibit microorganisms
What are the characteristics of disinfectants?
Chemicals used on inanimate objects, eliminating most or all pathogens with some viable microbes remaining
What is the main purpose of preservation?
To delay spoilage of perishable products
What is the primary function of washing and scrubbing with soaps and detergents?
Achieving routine control by aiding in the mechanical removal of organisms
Why is controlling microbes in healthcare settings particularly important?
Weakened patients are more susceptible to infection and may undergo invasive procedures
Which method is commonly used for sterilization in healthcare settings?
Moist heat
What type of microbes are highly resistant?
Bacterial endospores
What is a new concern in microbial control due to its resistance to destruction?
Prions
What influences the effectiveness of microbial control methods?
Environmental conditions
What type of precautions are used in patient care to prevent infection of patients and personnel?
Standard Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions
Which type of microbes are included in highly resistant microbes?
Protozoan cysts
What is used to destroy or remove microorganisms and viruses in healthcare settings?
Physical methods like heat treatment
What is a factor that influences the selection of antimicrobial procedures?
Type and number of microbes
What is used to sterilize instruments to prevent infection during surgery?
Special approaches
What type of microbes are included in highly resistant microbes?
Mycobacterium and Pseudomonas species
What is a category used for medical instruments according to the risk for transmitting infectious agents?
Critical to non-critical
What is a commonly used method for microbial control in healthcare settings?
Moist heat
Which type of microorganisms are the major source of most antibiotics?
Fungi
What is the primary reason for the financial risk associated with developing new antimicrobial medications?
Strict and expensive FDA testing
What is the purpose of the U.S. law Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now (GAIN)?
To encourage new antimicrobial development
What is the defining characteristic of broad-spectrum antibiotics?
They affect a wide range of pathogens
What is a key factor contributing to acquired resistance to antimicrobials?
Genetic mutations
What is the primary target of antibacterial medications?
Bacterial cell wall synthesis
Which organ dysfunction can affect the behavior of some antimicrobial medications?
Kidney dysfunction
What are the adverse effects of antimicrobials?
Allergic reactions
What is the characteristic of narrow-spectrum antibiotics?
They affect a limited range of pathogens
What encourages new antimicrobial development in the U.S.?
Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now (GAIN) law
Which type of microorganisms are the major source of most antibiotics?
Fungi
What is the primary target of antibacterial medications?
Bacterial cell wall synthesis
Which type of disinfectant is suitable for non-critical instruments?
Low-level disinfectants
What do high-level disinfectants reliably kill?
Viruses and vegetative cells
Which chemical is included in the classes of germicidal chemicals?
Alcohols
What inhibits the growth of pathogens and spoilage organisms?
Refrigeration
Which discovery revolutionized the treatment of infectious diseases in the 1940s?
Availability of penicillin
Which antimicrobial medication is associated with the treatment of bacterial pneumonia and severe staphylococcal infections?
Antibiotics
What did Fleming identify in 1928?
Penicillin
What do intermediate-level disinfectants destroy?
Vegetative bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and most viruses
What does freezing preserve?
Preserves by stopping all microbial growth
What threatens the effectiveness of antimicrobial medications?
Misuse and the evolution of microbial resistance
Which chemical is used as a germicidal chemical?
Chlorine
What do low-level disinfectants destroy?
Fungi, vegetative bacteria except mycobacteria, and enveloped viruses
Which type of bacteria produce a more extensive array of β-lactamases?
Gram-negatives
What is the mechanism of action of aminoglycosides?
Inhibition of protein synthesis
Which antibiotic is often reserved as a last resort against ESBL-producing organisms?
Carbapenems
What is the main target of glycopeptide antibiotics?
Amino acid side chain of NAM molecules
Which generation of cephalosporins is effective against MRSA?
Fifth generation
What is the primary source of natural penicillins?
Penicillium chrysogenum
Which type of bacteria are glycopeptide antibiotics effective against?
Gram-positives
What is the primary effect of extended-spectrum penicillins?
Reduced activity against Gram-positives
Which antibiotic category is known for its toxicity limits to topical applications?
Bacitracin
What is the primary characteristic of carbapenems?
Resistance to some β-lactamases
What is the primary difference between the activity of β-lactam antibiotics in Gram-positives and Gram-negatives?
Exposed peptidoglycan in Gram-positives
What accounts for the toxicity of aminoglycosides?
Misreading of mRNA by ribosomes past initiation
Study Notes
Germicidal Chemicals and Antimicrobial Medications Overview
- Sterilants destroy all microbes, including heat-sensitive critical instruments
- High-level disinfectants destroy viruses and vegetative cells, but do not reliably kill endospores
- Intermediate-level disinfectants destroy vegetative bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and most viruses, and are used for semi-critical instruments
- Low-level disinfectants destroy fungi, vegetative bacteria except mycobacteria, and enveloped viruses, and are used for non-critical instruments
- There are 25 classes of germicidal chemicals, including alcohols, aldehydes, biguanides, and ethylene oxide
- Chlorine, iodine, metal compounds, peroxygens, and phenolic compounds are also used as germicidal chemicals
- Refrigeration inhibits the growth of pathogens and spoilage organisms, and freezing preserves by stopping all microbial growth
- Antimicrobial medications have revolutionized the treatment of common diseases, such as bacterial pneumonia and severe staphylococcal infections
- The discovery of antimicrobial medications dates back to the early 20th century, with the development of chemotherapeutic agents
- The discovery of antibiotics began with Fleming's identification of penicillin in 1928, which was later purified and tested in the 1940s
- The availability of penicillin in the 1940s revolutionized the treatment of infectious diseases
- Misuse and the evolution of microbial resistance threaten the effectiveness of antimicrobial medications, leading to the urgent development of new medications
Test your knowledge of germicidal chemicals and antimicrobial medications with this informative quiz. Explore the different classes of germicidal chemicals, their uses, and the evolution of antimicrobial medications. Assess your understanding of sterilants, disinfectants, and the impact of microbial resistance on the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments.
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