Physical Methods of Microbial Control

• Radiation
• Ionizing radiation
• Wavelengths shorter than 1 nm
• Electron beams, gamma rays, some X rays
• Ejects electrons from atoms to create ions
• Ions disrupt hydrogen bonding, oxidize double covalent
bonds, and create hydroxyl radicals
• Ions denature other molecules (DNA)
• Electron beams effective at killing microbes but do not
penetrate well
• Gamma rays penetrate well but require hours to kill microbes
• X rays require long time to kill microbes
• Not practical for microbial control

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 Figure 9.12 A demonstration of the increased shelf life of food achieved by
ionizing radiation.

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 Physical Methods of Microbial Control

• Radiation
• Nonionizing radiation
• Wavelengths greater than 1 nm
• Excites electrons, causing them to make new
covalent bonds
• Affects 3-D structure of proteins and nucleic acids
• UV light causes pyrimidine dimers in DNA
• UV light does not penetrate well
• Suitable for disinfecting air, transparent fluids, and
surfaces of objects

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 Table 9.4 Physical Methods of Microbial Control

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 Chemical Methods of Microbial Control

• Phenol and Phenolics

• Denature proteins and disrupt cell membranes
• Effective in presence of organic matter
• Remain active for prolonged time
• Commonly used in health care settings, labs,
and homes
• Have disagreeable odor and possible side effects

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 Chemical Methods of Microbial Control

• Alcohols
• Intermediate-level disinfectants
• Denature proteins and disrupt cytoplasmic membranes
• More effective than soap in removing bacteria
from hands
• Swabbing of skin with alcohol prior to injection
removes most microbes

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 Chemical Methods of Microbial Control

• Halogens
• Intermediate-level antimicrobial chemicals
• Damage enzymes by denaturation
• Widely used in numerous applications
• Iodine tablets, iodophors, chlorine treatment, bleach,
chloramines, and bromine disinfection

Degerming in preparation for surgery on a hand

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 Chemical Methods of Microbial Control

• Oxidizing Agents
• Peroxides, ozone, and peracetic acid
• Kill by oxidation of microbial enzymes
• High-level disinfectants and antiseptics
• Hydrogen peroxide can disinfect and sterilize surfaces
• Not useful for treating open wounds due to catalase
activity
• Ozone treatment of drinking water
• Peracetic acid is an effective sporicide used to sterilize
equipment

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 Chemical Methods of Microbial Control

• Surfactants
• “Surface active” chemicals
• Reduce surface tension of solvents
• Soaps and detergents
• Soaps have hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends
• Good degerming agents but not antimicrobial
• Detergents are positively charged organic surfactants

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 Chemical Methods of Microbial Control

• Heavy Metals
• Heavy-metal ions denature proteins
• Low-level bacteriostatic and fungistatic agents
• 1% silver nitrate to prevent blindness caused by
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Thimerosal (mercury) used to preserve vaccines
• Copper controls algal growth

Heavy metal ions and bacterial growth.

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 Chemical Methods of Microbial Control

• Aldehydes
• Compounds containing terminal —CHO groups
• Cross-link functional groups to denature proteins and
inactivate nucleic acids
• Glutaraldehyde disinfects and sterilizes
• Formalin used in embalming and disinfection of rooms
and instruments

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 Chemical Methods of Microbial Control

• Enzymes
• Antimicrobial enzymes act against microorganisms
• Human tears contain lysozyme
• Digests peptidoglycan cell wall of bacteria
• Use enzymes to control microbes in the environment
• Lysozyme used to reduce the number of bacteria
in cheese
• Prionzyme can remove prions on medical instruments

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 Chemical Methods of Microbial Control

• Antimicrobial Drugs
• Antibiotics, semisynthetic, and synthetic chemicals
• Typically used for treatment of disease
• Some used for antimicrobial control outside the body

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 Table 9.5 Chemical Methods of Microbial Control

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