Sterilization and Disinfection Techniques for Microbial Control

The application of heat is used for sterilization the duration of time and appropriate temperature should be considered to guarantee destruction of all microorganisms. Wherein, disinfection is used to apply chemicals to objects like chlorination of water so that pathogens will be killed. The implementation of aseptic techniques using air filtration in susceptible areas, use of ultraviolet light in an area where microorganisms usually thrive like operating rooms.

The use of disinfectants which has a phenol component can reduce infections on wounds. Sterilization is the method of killing all microorganisms using aseptic technique while disinfection is the process of using disinfectants. Antiseptics are solutions that kill microorganisms on the living tissue wherein disinfectants have a higher capacity of killing harmful bacteria. Most disinfectants cannot totally eliminate microorganisms, especially bacterial endospores wherein virus and bacteria are more resistant.

The ingredients like quaternary ammonium salts, this is a component of Lysol which is used as a toilet bowl cleaner and disinfectant spray, these chemical can destroy cell membranes and can also disrupt the membrane of some viruses. The compound named phenol which can be derived from ordinary plant which is also a common ingredient of disinfectants that can disrupt cell membrane to control enzyme function. Disinfectants are typically applied on non living objects in order to destroy microorganisms and this process are called disinfection.

The difference between disinfectants and antibiotics should be distinguished when disinfectants are improperly used it can harm even the person using it that is why household disinfectants should be properly used and kept away from children. Bitrex is a component of some disinfectants which is a special bitter substance that can discourage intake of food for human or animals and it should be used with extra care. In addition, the use of other cleaning products mixed with the indoor disinfectant should be avoided hence chemical reaction can occur that may cause more harm.

Conclusion The odor of the disinfectant like Lysol even if it has fragrance does not mean that it is safe to smell it is quite irritating to the nose due of its chemical component and I have learned that there should always be safety rules to follow before applying disinfectant in the house, its effect is tolerable for man the continuous use of it may soon give the human body a drastic affect that could damage cells that would lead to metabolic abnormality and impair the physiologic activity of the body that ends up to occurrence of diseases once the immune system shuts down.

The contact of various infectants to our skin especially to the food we ingest should be avoided again this is due to the fact that this chemical solutions serve its purpose but once the body inhaled or ingest too much of it and in instances that it already accumulated in the body but is not excreted by our organs thoroughly it will stay inside our body. Its damage will be observed once it develops antagonistic effect to our immune system and to the normal flora of microorganism inside our body.

In short, disinfectants should only be used frequently in places where too much types of microorganism exist like hospitals. In our household, proper hygiene like frequent washing of hands before and after eating, on handling of foods, especially after coming from the rest room because the stool is the carrier of almost all microorganisms that can infect man. The proper use of disinfectants should be observed carefully by reading the label before use because even if they control the growth of microorganisms it does not mean that it will not give harm to us humans.

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Sterilization and Disinfection Techniques for Microbial Control. (2016, Aug 22). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/disinfectants/

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