| asepsis |
A
condition free of viable pathogenic microorganisms |
| bactericide |
An agent that kills
bacteria |
| bacteriostatic |
Any
process or agent that inhibits bacterial growth |
| cold sterilization |
The use of nonheating
methods such as radiation or filtration to sterilize materials |
| decontamination |
The
removal or neutralization of an infectious, poisonous, or injurious agent from a site. |
| denature |
The loss of normal
characteristics resulting from some molecular alteration. Usually in reference to the
action of heat or chemicals on proteins whose function depends upon an unaltered tertiary
structure. |
| disinfection |
The
destruction of pathogenic nonsporulating microbes or their toxins, usually on inanimate
surfaces. |
| electromagnetic radiation |
A form of energy that
is emitted as waves and is propagated through space and matter. The spectrum extends from
short gamma rays to long radio waves. |
| germicide |
An
agent lethal to non-endospore-forming pathogens |
| pasteurization |
Heat treatment of
perishable fluids such as milk, fruit juices, or wine to destroy heat-sensitive vegetative
cells, followed by rapid chilling to inhibit growth of survivors and germination of
spores. It prevents infection and spoilage |
| radiation |
Electromagnetic
waves or rays, such as those of light given off from an energy source |
| sanitization |
To clean inanimate
objects using soap and degerming agents so that they are safe and free of high levels of
microorganisms. |
| sterilization |
Any
process that completely removes or destroys all viable microorganisms, including viruses,
from an object or habitat. Material so treated is sterile. |
| surfactant |
A surface-active agent
that form a water-soluble interface. Examples: detergents, wetting agents, dispersing
agents, and surface tension depressants |
