Microbial

Growth &
Control
Maria Belinda P. Castaneda, MAN, RN
Faculty, College of Nursing
 Learning
Objectives
After the end of the topic discussion, student/learners
will be able to:
 Explain the different factors which promote
microorganism growth
 Discuss the chain of infection
 Differentiate medical and surgical aseptic methods in
the control of microorganism
1. Microbial Nutrient
• NUTRITION: process by which chemical
substances called nutrients are required from
the environment and used in cellular
metabolism and growth
• ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT: any substance, whether
in elemental or molecular form that must be
absorbed, processed and transformed into the
chemicals of the cell
 ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
MACRONUTRIENTS MICRONUTRIENTS
• Plays a principal role in cell structure
and metabolism
• Involved in enzyme
Examples:
function and maintenance
1.CARBON: organic molecules i.e.
of protein structure
carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic • Also known as trace
acids elements
2.HYDROGEN: includes water, salts and Examples:
certain naturally occurring gases to
maintain pH balance & used as free energy
Manganese
3.OXYGEN: important in the structural and Nickel
enzymatic functions of the cell
 OTHER NUTRIENTS
POTASSIUM Essential to protein synthesis and membrane function
SODIUM Important for certain types of cell transport
CALCIUM Stabilizer of the cell wall and endospores of bacteria
MAGNESIUM Component of chlorophyll & stabilizer of membranes and ribosomes
IRON Important component of the cytochrome proteins of cell respiration
Ex: bacteria that causes gonorrhea & meningitis grow more rapidly
in the presence of iron ions
ZINC Essential for regulatory element for eukaryotic genetics
A major component of “zinc fingers” – binding factors that help
enzymes adhere to specific sites on DNA
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF MICROBIAL
CYTOPLASM
• WATER – 70%
• PROTEINS – next most prevalent chemical
• Organic compounds – 97%
• CHONPS – 96%
- Nitrogen
- Phosphate: key component of nucleic acids &
thereby essential to the genetics of cells & viruses
- Sulfur: help determine shape & structural
stability of proteins by forming unique linkages
(component in some vitamin B1)
 2. ENVIRONMENTAL
FACTORS
• TEMPERATURE:
a.Psychrophile – m.o. that can survive below 15 degrees
Ex: Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes (can
grow in refrigerated food & cause food-borne illness)
b.Mesophile – m.o. that grow at 10 to 50 degrees
Ex: Giardia, Bacillus & Clostridium
c.Thermophile – m.o that can survive at greater than 45
degrees
Ex: Bacteria found in volcanic area
 2. ENVIRONMENTAL
FACTORS
• GAS/OXYGEN
• pH: degree of acidity and alkalinity – 6 to 8 (N= 0-14)
• OSMOTIC PRESSURE: isotonic, hypotonic and
hypertonic
2. ENVIRONMENTAL
FACTORS
Trivia:

Would be advisable to instruct your

patient to continue on taking
vitamins/multivitamins when she
/he is acutely infected with m.o
related diseases?
MEDICAL & SURGICAL
ASEPSIS
(microbial control)
 The Spread of Infection: Six Links
Presence of pathogen
1

2 Reservoir (source)
Susceptible host Pathogen
6 survive and
multiply
Portal of entry to host 3 Portal of exitindirect,
Direct, from reservoir
airborne

5 Mode of transmission
4
 CHAIN OF INFECTION
1st Link: PRESENCE OF PATHOGENS
 Infectious Agents
 Normal flora that become pathogenic

2nd Link: RESERVOIR

 Where pathogens live and multiply
 May be living
- Humans, animals, insects
 May be nonliving
- Foods, floors, equipment, contaminated water
 CHAIN OF INFECTION

3rd Link: PORTAL OF EXIT: 4th Link: MODE OF TRANSMISSION:

• Via • Contact
 Bodily fluids • Direct – touching, kissing, sexual
 Coughing, sneezing, diarrhea contact
 Seeping wounds • Indirect – contact with a fomite
 Tubes, IV lines • Droplet: Cough, sneeze
• Airborne: Via air conditioning,
sweeping
 CHAIN OF INFECTION

5th Link: PORTAL OF ENTRY:

• Eye, nares, mouth, vagina, cuts, scrapes
• Wounds, surgical sites, IV or drainage tube
sites
• Bite from a vector

6th Link: SUSCEPTIBLE HOST:

• Person with inadequate defense
• Three determining factors:
 Virulence
 Number of organisms
 Nurse’s role in

• Containing nosocomial infections

CLEAN, DISINFECT, STERILIZE
• Controlling/eliminating reservoirs
▫ Bathing, dressing changes, patent drainage systems
• Controlling the portal of exit
▫ Cover mouth/nose, wear mask, client teaching
• Controlling transmission
▫ Do not share equipment, proper handling of linens, HANDWASHING,
PPE
• Controlling portal of entry
▫ Maintain skin integrity, position changes, proper wiping techniques,
maintain drainage integrity
 Define Terms
• ASEPSIS: absence of germs or micro organisms

• MEDICAL ASEPSIS: technique or procedure

which reduces the number of micro organisms
and thus prevents the spread of disease

• SURGICAL ASEPSIS: Protection against infection

before, during and after a surgical procedure

• INFECTION: Invasion of the body by pathogens

Principles of Medical and Surgical Asepsis

MEDICAL ASEPSIS SURGICAL ASEPSIS

 Practice which reduces the  Total elimination of all

number, growth and micro organisms, spores
spread of micro organisms  Sterile field (OR, L&D, etc),
 Referred to as ‘clean’ gown and glove
technique’  Methods:
 Hand washing 20 – • Steam, radiation,
60seconds chemicals, or
gas
 MICROBIAL CONTROL METHODS

PHYSICAL AGENTS CHEMICAL AGENTS MECHANICAL REMOVAL METHODS

RADIATION FILTRATION
HEAT GASES LIQUID

MOIST AIR LIQUID

DRY
STERILIZATION DISINFECTION
DECONTAMINATION
STEAM BOILING WATER,
HOT WATER,
INCINERATION DRY OVEN UNDER
PASTEURIZATION
PRESSURE
ANIMATE INANIMATE

STERILIZATION STERILIZATION DISINFECTION

ANTISEPSIS DISNIFECTION STERILIZATION

IONIZING NON-IONIZING

XRAY, CATHODE,
GAMMA
UV

STERILIZATION DISINFECTION
 MICROBIAL CONTROL METHODS

DISINFECTION: destruction or removal of vegetative

pathogens but not bacterial endospores; usually used
on inanimate objects only

STERILIZATION: complete removal or destruction of

all viable microorganisms; used on inanimate
objects, including viruses
 MICROBIAL CONTROL METHODS

ANTISEPSIS: chemicals applied to body surfaces to

destroy or inhibit vegetative pathogens (not
endospores)

DECONTAMINATION: mechanical removal of most

microbes from animate or inanimate surface