Microbial control

Terminology and Basic Concepts:

1. What is the definition of sterilization?

2. Explain the difference between disinfection and sanitization.

3. How do antiseptics differ from disinfectants?

4. Define chemotherapy in the context of microbial control.

5. What is the significance of the suffix "-cidal" in antimicrobial agents?

6. Give examples of different types of antimicrobial agents.

7. Why is resistance to biocides a concern, and what are some mechanisms of resistance?

8. What is the decimal reduction time, and how is it related to microbial death?

9. How does the Z value relate to the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents?

Factors Influencing Microbial Control:

10. How does population size affect the time required for microbial control?

11. Explain why population composition can impact the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents.

12. What is the relationship between the concentration of an antimicrobial agent and its
effectiveness?

13. Why is the duration of exposure important in microbial control?

14. How does temperature influence the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents?

15. What role does the local environment play in microbial control?

Physical Methods of Microbial Control:

16. Describe the process of filtration and its applications.

17. What is the difference between membrane filters and depth filters?

18. How do surgical masks and HEPA filters contribute to microbial control in the air?

19. Explain the principles of moist heat sterilization.

20. Why is steam sterilization considered effective against all types of microorganisms?

21. What is the purpose of using autoclaves in steam sterilization?

22. How does dry heat sterilization differ from moist heat sterilization?

23. What is pasteurization, and in what applications is it commonly used?

24. Describe the process of Tyndallization and its purpose.

25. How does UV radiation work as a microbial control method?

26. What are the limitations of UV radiation in terms of penetration?

Chemical Methods of Microbial Control:

27. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using phenolics as disinfectants.

28. Why are alcohols widely used as disinfectants and antiseptics?

29. Describe the mode of action of halogens such as iodine and chlorine.

30. What are iodophores, and how do they minimize skin burns?

31. Explain how heavy metals can be effective as germicides.

32. What are quaternary ammonium compounds, and where are they commonly used?

33. How do aldehydes like formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde function as sterilizing agents?

34. What are sterilizing gases, and why are they used for certain materials?

35. Provide examples of items that can be sterilized using ethylene oxide.

Efficiency Evaluation and Biological Control:

36. What is the purpose of the phenol coefficient test?

37. How is the potency of a disinfectant determined in the use-dilution test?

38. Why is normal in-use testing important for evaluating disinfectants?

39. Explain the concept of biological control of microorganisms.

40. What is the role of predation by Bdellovibrio in microbial control?

41. How can viral-mediated lysis be used for microbial control?

42. Describe the potential applications of toxin-mediated killing using bacteriocins.

Microbial Control in Food:

43. Why is microbial control crucial in food technology?

44. How does controlling microbial growth help prevent spoilage in food?

45. What measures are taken to ensure food safety through microbial control?

General:

46. In what situations would you choose to use sterilization over disinfection?

47. Which antimicrobial agent would you select for controlling bacteria but not endospores?

48. What factors influence the choice between moist heat and dry heat sterilization?

49. How can you assess the effectiveness of a disinfectant in real-world conditions?

50. Why is it essential to consider the specific needs of an application when selecting a microbial
control method?