Title 11. DETAILED STUDY OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF STERILIZATION INCLUDING THEIR MERITS AND DEMERITS.pdf ✅

PHARMD GURU Page 2  Sanitization: Sanitization is the process of disinfection including cleansing action. Sanitizers are commonly applied to inanimate objects.  Antiseptic: The term antiseptic is used to designate any substance which would prevent sepsis, either by killing microorganisms or by inhibiting their growth. An antiseptic can be applied to body tissues without causing injury to the tissue.  Germicide: A germicide is an agent that kills vegetative cells but not necessarily the resistant spore forms of germs. The terms bactericide, fungicide, virucide and sporicide refer to agents that kill bacteria, fungi, viruses and spores respectively.  Microbiostasis: Microbiostasis is the process of preventing the growth, reproduction and multiplication of microorganisms but not of killing them.  Preservative: A preservative is a substance that prevents the growth of microorganisms. These substances are mainly added in food and pharmaceuticals to prevent microbial growth. Preservatives are not harmful to living tissues. STERILIZATION METHODS: The various methods used in sterilization can be classified as follows: I. PHYSICAL METHODS: a) Dry heat sterilization: Ex: Incineration, direct flame, red heat, hot air etc. b) Moist heat sterilization/steam sterilization: Ex: Pasteurization, tyndallization, autoclave etc. c) Radiation/cold sterilization: 1) Use of ultra-violet rays: UV light 2) Ionising radiations: X-rays, gamma rays, beta rays. d) Filtration / mechanical methods: 1) Asbestos filter (seitz filter). 2) Sintered glass filter (martian filter). 3) Filter candles (ceramic/Berkefeld filter) 4) Membrane filter (millipore/ultra filter). II. CHEMICAL METHODS: a) Gaseous sterilization: Ex: Formaldehyde, ethylene oxide etc b) By using disinfectants: Ex: Cresol, phenol etc.