Question | Answer |
Alcohol | an antiseptic that works by denaturing proteins, which inhibits the growth of many microorganisms |
Aldehyde | a chemical such as glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde that can be used as a chemical agent to kill or slow the growth of bacteria |
Aminoglycoside | an antibiotic that contains amino groups bonded to carbohydrate groups that inhibit protein synthesis |
Antisepsis | the use of chemical methods for eliminating or reducing the growth of microorganisms |
Antiseptic | a chemical used to reduce or kill pathogenic microorganisms on a living object |
Autoclave | an instrument used to sterilize microbiological materials by means of high temperature using steam under pressure |
Biological safety cabinet | a cabinet or hood used to prevent contamination of biological materials |
Broad-spectrum antibiotic | referring to an antimicrobial drug useful for treating many groups of microorganisms, including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria |
Denaturation | a process caused by heat or pH in which proteins lose their function due to changes in their molecular structure |
Desiccation | a process through which things are made to be extremely dry by removing water |
Disinfectant | a chemical used to kill or inhibit pathogenic microorganisms on a lifeless object |
Disinfection | the process of killing or inhibiting the growth of pathogens |
Filtration | a mechanical method to remove microorganisms by passing a liquid or air through a filter |
Flash pasteurization method | a treatment in which milk is heated at 71.6 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds and then cooled rapidly to eliminate harmful bacteria |
Halogen | a chemical element whose atoms have seven electrons in their outer shell, includes iodine and chlorine |
Heavy metal | a chemical element often toxic to microorganisms; includes mercury, silver, gold, copper |
High efficiency particle air filter | a type of air filter that removes particles larger than 0.3 micrometers |
Holding method | pasteurization method that exposes liquids to 63 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes |
Hydrogen peroxide | an unstable liquid that readily decomposes in water and O2 gas |
Ionizing radiation | a type of radiation such as gamma rays and x-rays that causes the separation of atoms or a molecule into ions |
Lyophilization | a process in which food or other material is deep frozen, after which its liquid is drawn off by a vacuum; also called freeze drying |
Osmosis | the net movement of water molecules from an area of high concentration through a semipermeable membrane to a region of lower concentration |
Pasteurization | a heating process that destroys pathogenic bacteria in a liquid; lowers the overall number of bacteria in the fluid |
Pasteurizing dose | the amount of radiation used to eliminate pathogens |
Penicillinase | an enzyme produced by certain microorganisms that converts penicillin into penicilloic acid and thereby confers resistance to penicillin |
Peroxide | a compound containing oxygen-oxygen single bond |
Phenol | a chemical compound that has one or more hydroxyl groups attached to a benzene ring; derivatives are used for as an antiseptic or disinfectant |
Semisynthetic | referring to a chemical substance synthesized from natural and lab components used to treat disease |
Sterilization | the removal of all life forms, including endospores |
Superbug | a strain of bacterial species that has become resistant to multiple antibiotic drugs |
Superinfection | the overgrowth of susceptible strains by antibiotic resistant ones |
Triclosan | a phenol derivative incorporated as an antimicrobial agent into a wide variety of household products |
Ultra-high temperature method | a treatment in which milk is heated to 140 degrees Celsius for 3 seconds to destroy harmful bacteria |