CO 07

Chapter 7
Control of Microorganisms by Physical and Chemical Agents
Sanitized for your protection!
What do the following terms mean?

1.Sterilization

2.Disinfection

3.Sanitization

4. Antisepsis

5. Chemotherapy
Physical Agents?
Physical Agents?

Heat

Radiation
Chemical Agents?
Chemical Agents?

Gases

Liquids
Mechanical Agents?
Mechanical Agents?

Filters
Fig. 7.1
 Conditions Influencing the Effectiveness of
Antimicrobial Agent Activity

• Population composition
• Population size
• Concentration or intensity of the antimicrobial
agent
• Temperature
• Local environment
• Duration of exposure
Heat

Wet or Dry ?
 Heat
• Dry heat can be used to sterilize moisture-
sensitive materials such as powders, oils, and
metal or glass items; (160 to 170C) for (2 to 3
hrs)

For example: Glass pipettes

may be sterilized in metal cans
placed in a hot oven.
Moist Heat
Table 7.2
Filters
Fig. 7.7
Fig. 7.8
• Radiation

 Ultraviolet (UV) radiation

• Ionizing radiation (X rays, gamma rays,

etc.)
Fig. 6.25
Fig. 7.10
 Chemicals
• Phenolics-laboratory and hospital disinfectants; act by
denaturing proteins

• Alcohol-widely used disinfectants and antiseptics; will

not kill endospores; act by denaturing proteins and
possibly by dissolving membrane lipids

• Halogens-widely used antiseptics and disinfectants

Fig. 7.11
When chlorine is added to water,
hypochlorous acids form:

Cl2 + H2O -> HOCl + H+ + Cl-

HOCl -> HCl + O

• Heavy metals-effective but usually toxic; act by
combining with proteins and inactivating them

• Quaternary ammonium compounds-cationic

detergents used as disinfectants for food
utensils and small instruments, and because of
low toxicity, as antiseptics for skin; act by
disrupting biological membranes and possibly
by denaturing proteins
• Aldehydes-reactive molecules that can be
used as chemical sterilants; may irritate
the skin; act by combining with proteins
and inactivating them

• Sterilizing gases (e.g., ethylene oxide,

betapropiolactone)-can be used to sterilize
heat-sensitive materials such as plastic
petri dishes and disposable syringes; act
by combining with proteins and
inactivating them
Fig. 7.12
Fig. 7.13
Table 7.4
Table 7.5
Table 7.6
Mercurichrome Merthiolate