Download MED 266: Pharmacology Chapter 44: Antiseptics and Disinfectants

MED 266: Pharmacology
Chapter 44: Antiseptics and Disinfectants Worksheet
Complete the following.
1. Antiseptics and disinfectants are used to control and prevent infection. Antiseptics and
disinfectants destroy __________________________ on contact.
2. ________________________ is more frequently associated with the eradication or
inhibition of microbial growth on living tissue surfaces
3. _______________________ reduce the risk of infection by destroying pathogenic
microbes on nonliving surfaces.
4. The role of antiseptics and disinfectants: reduce ___________________ growth and
contamination from exogenous (outside the body) sources and reduce the risk of
_______________.
5. The objective of antisepsis and disinfection is to _______________________ the
opportunity for microorganisms to enter the body in order to permit normal defense
mechanisms to work.
6. _____________________ is the complete eradication of all microorganisms and spores.
Sterilization can be achieved by using high-pressure steam for hours in specialized tanks
called __________________.
7. Surfaces, whether walls, fingernails, or open wounds, must be thoroughly cleaned
___________ to using disinfectants or antiseptics.
8. Antiseptics are used to cleanse and ________________________ wounds, cuts, and
abrasions; to prepare patients' _____________ prior to surgery or injection; and to
prepare the surgical ______________ prior to surgery.
9. Disinfectants are used to clean and store surgical _____________________, to disinfect
operating room walls and floors, and to sterilize (________ _____________________)
objects that cannot tolerate the high temperatures associated with routine steam
sterilization procedures.
10. The _____________________ elements are chlorine, fluorine, bromine, and iodine. The
ones used most in antiseptics are ____________ and chlorine. Iodine is probably
_____________________ to all other antiseptics for degerming the skin. Iodine is a
rapid-acting, potent ________________________ effective against bacteria, protozoa,
and viruses.
11. Of the chlorine compounds, the most cost-effective disinfectant is common chlorine
______________. It is effective against most common pathogens, including such difficult
organisms as ________________________, hepatitis B and C, fungi, antibiotic-resistant
strains of _________________________________ and Enterococcus, and viruses.
12. Ethyl alcohol is an effective ____________________ in concentrations of less than 70
percent, whereas isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is ____________________ at all
concentrations (50 to 90 percent). Alcohols are not considered to have
_________________ antimicrobial activity; that is, activity that lasts for hours after
application.
13. ________________________________ is useful as a skin cleanser and surgical scrub
because potential pathogens that reside on the skin surface are frequently grampositive bacteria.
14. __________________ __________________________ is an oxidizing agent that is
generally regarded as safe and effective by the FDA. It is used medically for cleaning
wounds, for removing dead tissue, and as an oral debriding agent
15. This is a large group of related compounds that includes the agent benzalkonium
chloride (Bactine, Gold Bond First Aid antiseptic, Zephiran). They are
_________________ against many bacteria, fungi, and protozoa but not against
bacterial spores or molds
16. __________________ ________________ is commonly used as an ophthalmic
antiseptic in newborns. The purpose of this is to prevent infection of the tissues
surrounding the eyes caused by gonorrhea and Chlamydia, which may be present in the
birth canal as the baby is being born.
17. The Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and
Drug Administration have reviewed the research and concluded that there is no
evidence linking _________________________ to developmental changes in children.
Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, all new __________________ for children
under six years of age are thimerosal-free or contain only trace amounts.
18. The most common side effects associated with the topical use of disinfectants and
antiseptics in general are skin dryness, irritation, rash, and
__________________________ at the contacted surface.
19. The ________________________ group includes formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and
ethylene oxide. These chemicals are used to inactivate viruses and ____________
because they add functional groups to the microorganism that are not compatible with its
life. This group is never used as an antiseptic because of the potential
________________ to human tissue at any concentration
20. _________________________ is a human carcinogen and creates respiratory problems
at low levels of concentration. It must be handled with special ventilation and isolated
prep areas. If you are not trained to safely and properly handle formaldehyde, stay
away from it and never breathe it directly.