Disinfection Fundamentals

Antiseptic A chemical agent that can be used topologically on tissue to destroy or control the growth of microorganisms 

Sterilization The destruction of all microorganisms in or on a material (as bandages) or liquid (such as irritant fluids) 

Germs All microorganisms Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, spores, and viruses 

Germi - static An agent that inhibits the growth of a microorganism (e.g., bacteristatic) An agent that kills microorganisms (e.g., 

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Cheremisinoff, P.N. and R.B. Trattner, Fundamentals of Disinfection for Pollution Control, SciTech Publishers, Inc., Morganville, NJ, 1990. 

Carlson, S. (1991) Fundamentals of water disinfection, J. Water SRT-Aqua40, 346-356. 

Today, we produce bromine the same way Balard did. Our major source of the element is in Arkansas, where there are deep brine wells. Chlorine gas is added to the heated brine, and jets of air or steam drive the bromine out of solution. Bromine and its compounds have many applications. We use the element itself to disinfect water, just like chlorine. Silver bromide is sensitive to light, and it s fundamental to photography. At one time, potassium bromide was a common sedative. We still say Take a bromide when we mean Calm down. ... 

Mellstrom GA, Boman AS (1997) Protective gloves test results compiled in a database. In Brune D, Gerhardsson G, Crockford GW, DAuria D (eds) The work place, vol 1. Fundamentals of health, safety and welfare. International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS), International Labour Office, Geneva and Scandinavian Science Publisher, Oslo, pp 716-730 Mellstrom G, Lindberg M, Boman A (1992) Permeation and destructive effect of disinfectants on protective gloves. Contact Dermatitis 26 163-170... 

Nearly every common laboratory technique and operation poses safety hazards. Many of these hazards involve the likelihood of exposure to infectious agents or to mechanical injury caused by improper procedures or techniques. Learning the proper techniques to avoid the risk of exposure to infectious or hazardous agents, as well as to avoid damage to equipment, should be a fundamental goal for all those engaged in laboratory work. Part 1 (Chapters 1 to 5) covers the principles of research safety in the biomedical laboratory, discusses the hazards associated with common laboratory operations, and examines the theoretical aspects of decontamination and disinfection. 

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