Introduction
Sterilization is a process that removes, kills, and inhibit the growth of all forms of microorganisms, including transmissible agents (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and spore forms, etc.).
There are two most common techniques used for sterilization, which are described below.
Physical methods.
Chemical methods.
Physical methods
There are four common physical agents employed for control the microbial growth.
I. Heat II. Filtration III. Radiation IV. Low temperature
I. Heat:-It is the one of the best ways to destroy the microorganisms; there are two type of heat.
Moist heat (steam sterilization) II. Dry heat
Moist heat
Viruses, bacteria, and fungi are killed by moist heat. Vegetative cells and eukaryotic end spores are killed in ten minutes by boiling water. However the temperature of boiling water is 100 °c which is not high enough to kill bacterial endo spores.
In order to kill bacterial endo spores, temperature must be carried out at above 100°c, it can be achieved by autoclave (it is device like pressure cooker) the temperature is at 121°c and 15 pounds pressure for 30 minutes .
Dry heat
Some items are sterilized by dry heat (fire, dry air). Moist heat is quite effective than dry heat. Dry heat is not suitable for heat sensitive material like rubber and plastic.
Examples of dry heat
Oven:-In dry heat method items such as glass petri plates and pipettes are placed into oven at 160°c to 170°c temperature for 1 to 2 hours.
Incineration :- Some objects are sterilized by incineration.
Inoculating loops, which are used in laboratory, can be sterilized bench-top incinerator.
Because heat is useful in controlling the microorganisms, it is essential to have a precise measure of heat-k...
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... cleaning agents. Only cationic detergents are effective disinfectants, the most popular quaternary ammonium compounds. They disrupt microbial membranes and may also denature proteins.
Aldehydes
Glutaraldehydes and formaldehyde are highly reactive molecules that combine with proteins and inactive them. They are sporicidal. Glutaraldehyde is used to disinfect equipments of laboratories and hospitals.
Sterilization Gases
Many heat sensitive items such as disposable syringes, catheters and disposable plastic Petri dishes are now sterilized with ethylene oxide gas. Ethylene oxide gas is both sporicidal and microbicidal.
Betapropiolatone (BLP) is used as a sterilizing gas, in liquid form it has been used to sterilize vaccines and sera.
Vaporized hydrogen peroxide can be employed to decontaminate biological safety cabinets, operating rooms, and other large facilities.
For example, incubating the samples at different temperatures would create more data points to establish an optimal temperature. From the results in the experiment in this study, it is known as temperature increases, enzymatic activity increase, and vise versa. However, what can not be observed is at what point does the increase in temperature begin to denature the enzyme, above 60°C. Furthermore, assays can be preformed to determine optimal pH, as well. From Dutta’s, and his partners, experiment it shows that there is a range where the Heliodiaptomus viduus’s lactase shows the most activity, which is between 5.0 and 6.0
In this experiment the heat shock method will be used to deliver a vector (plasmid) of GFP to transform and grow E. coli bacteria. Four plates containing Luria Bertani (LB) broth and either –pGLO and +pGLO will have E. coli bacteria added to it. The plate containing –pGLO (no pGLO) and LB will show growth as ampicillin will be present killing bacteria but no glowing because no arabinose will be present for glowing to be activated, the same result will be seen in the plate containing +pGLO, LB and ampicillin. The plate with –pGLO, LB and ampicillin will show no growth and no glowing as no arabinose is present for glowing to be activated
Sterile compounding is the preparation of products that should be free from all viable forms of life. There are more stringent requirements for sterile compounding than there are for non-sterile compounding. Staff must be trained and tested on their aseptic processing abilities, cleaner aseptic facilities are required, the quality of air entering the aseptic facility must be evaluated and maintained, sterilisation processes must be effective, knowledge of solution stability is needed and sterility testing of the products is required. The most common type of compounded sterile preparations (CSP) used clinically are aqueous injections. These CSPs require greater attention when being prepared as they pose the greatest risk to the patient if they are non-sterile or contain the wrong ingredients and/or wrong concentrations of ingredients if they are given intravenously. The main objective of sterile compounding is to prevent both morbidity and mortality of patients, which can be caused by non-sterility of preparations, high bacterial endotoxin content and errors associated with ingredients of the preparation, as mentioned earlier.
2-butoxyethanol, a colorless liquid with a mild odor, is used in different paints, primers, and kinds of ink, along with numerous household cleaning products commonly found, to remove substances such as grease and oils. However, the usage of 2-butoxyethanol comes with risks as well. 2-butoxyethanol’s risks outweigh the rewards of it being used.
...f inhaler. Patient must disinfect the parts of the nebulizer by boiling them in water every other day of treatment to stop the spread of germs.
Brief Summary: This article produced by Encyclopaedia Britannica helped further the understanding on what Hydrogen Peroxide is and what it is used for.
One thing that must be noted is that contrary to popular belief, infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc. are not desig...
The purpose of performing this lab was to find the specific heat capacity of an unknown metal.
...many steps involved in treating it successfully. Long-sleeved clothing should be worn. Nitrile or super nitrile gloves should be worn and safety glasses, googles or a face shield should be worn. Barrier cream should be applied on hands prior to use. One other person should be present in the laboratory. When not in use, keep containers closed and in an upright position. Also when not in use, containers with hydrogen peroxide should be kept away from sources of heat including sunlight and Bunsen burners. Keep combustible materials away from hydrogen peroxide. Prevent build-up of mists or vapours in the atmosphere. Ensure a supply of water is readily available. Maintain a high level of personal hygiene when using this product, by always washing hands before eating, drinking, smoking or using toilet facilities. It is advisable to apply a moisturiser after washing hands.
The objective of this experiment was to identify a metal based on its specific heat using calorimetry. The unknown metals specific heat was measured in two different settings, room temperature water and cold water. Using two different temperatures of water would prove that the specific heat remained constant. The heated metal was placed into the two different water temperatures during two separate trials, and then the measurements were recorded. Through the measurements taken and plugged into the equation, two specific heats were found. Taking the two specific heats and averaging them, it was then that
First, hand sanitizer is made up of key ingredients. There is an active ingredient, which is the ingredient that kills the germs. This is usually alcohol, but can be many other things like ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or a combination of both. “Benzalkonium chloride is another FDA-approved active ingredient in some hand sanitizers. Although it is not an alcohol, benzalkonium chloride also works to kill bacteria and some viruses on the hands” (Jackie). Also, there are humectants added. Humectants are added to hand sanitizer to moisturize the skin. Glycerin and propylene glycol are humectants. They are commonly used in hand sanitizer. From the humicants holding water, they help prevent your skin from drying with frequent use of hand sanitizer because the active ingredients can dry out your skin. There are more ways of hand sanitizer moisturizing your skin. For example, “Isopropyl myristate is an emollient, which is a chemical that seals the skin surface and makes it smoother. It is made from a substance naturally found in nutmeg, coconut oil and some animal fats. Many hand contain isopropyl myristate and moisturizers, such as aloe vera and tocopherol acetate, or synthetic vitamin E” (Jackie). Carbomer and amniomethyl propanol are common ingredients used as binding agents. Emulsifiers keep other ingredients f...
· If spilt on clothes or skin, wash with water to prevent harm to the
Hydrochloric acid is a strong and corrosive acid that is often used as a reagent in laboratories.
Laundry Detergents - Unscented products, biodegradable These are just some of the substitutes for harmful chemicals in the house. At least when you clean you house you don’t have to worry about hurting your child or yourself if you use the alternatives. Works Cited www.atstar.com agency for toxic substances and disease www.thisland.illinois.edu/57ways/47ways_22.html Emerging infectious diseases- antibacterial household products: cause for concern.
Storage and use of cleaning materials; Bulk cleaning agents shall not be stored in areas where food is prepared, processed, and/or stored. (Not accordance with the standard), some cleaning materials were store at the kitchen nearby foodstuffs.