CONTROLLING THE GROWTH
OF MICROBES
Invitro – inside of human body
Vitro – outside of human body
Invivo – how to control microbes inside the body
FACTORS AFFECTING THE GROWTH OF
MICROBES
A. Availability of nutrients
B. Moisture
C. Temperature – 35C to 40C
v Thermophiles – hot
v Mesophiles – moderate (37C)
v Psychrophiles – cold
D. pH
v Acidophiles, alkaliphiles
v Fermentation – (ex. salt and sugar)
E. Osmotic Pressure – Osmosis
v Hypertonic solution – plasmolysis
v Hypotonic solution – plasmoptosis
§ Halophilic – loves salt
§ Haloduric – not compatible in surviving in
salty environment
F. Barometric Pressure – most bacteria are
not affected in pressure
G. Gaseous Atmosphere
 –
  sound waves when passed through the liquid; it
aerobes/anaerobes
  mechanically dislodge organic debris; sterilization
INHIBITING GROWTH OF MICROBES IN
VITRO
o Sterile
o Sterilization – removing microbial life
including spores (autoclave, ethylene oxide
gas, radiation UV light
• Disinfection; disinfection – eliminating
most of pathogens (fomites)
• Pasteurization – for food; most cell will
destroy only pathogens especially liquids
• Antiseptic - disinfecting the skin and other
living tissues
• Sanitation – reducing microbial population
to safe levels; by public health standard
• Microbial agent – bactericidal, fungidical,
algicidal, viricidal, psuedomoricidal,
tuberculocidal
• Microbiostatic agent – limit
number/growth of bacteria – bacteriostatic
• Lyophilization – prevention of bacteria
through freezing; bacteria remains dormant
Sepsis – presence of pathogen in blood and
tissue
Asepsis – eliminate (medical and surgical)
Sterile technique –
PHYSICAL METHODS TO INHIBIT
MICROBIAL GROWTH
Heat – pathogens are susceptible to heat
v Dry heat – metals, glassware, some
powders, oils, waxes,
v Incirenation – contaminated disposable
materials
v Moist heat – autoclave, boiling,
steaming (30minutes)
Cold – metabolic activity are slowed
v Slow freezing – crystallization in cell à
rupture of cell membrane
v Rapid freezing – preserve microorganism
v Dessication – alive, not reproducing
Radiation – air; surfaces; do not expose skin and
eyes to UV light
v UV lamp – rays penetrate cell-damage DNA
Ultrasonic waves – ultrasonic cleaners; use of short
is needed
Filtration – dry gauze or paper mask
v High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) –
air filter that removes 99.97% of particles to
have a size of 0.3 micrometer à prevent
airborne infection
v Gaseous atmosphere – altering the
atmosphere
CHEMICAL AGENTS THAT INHIBIT
MICROBIAL GROWTH
Disinfectants
Factors affecting the effectiveness of
disinfectants:
o Prior to cleaning of objects or
surface to be disinfected
o Organic load that is present
v Bioburden – type and level
of microbial contamination
YAMBAO, CHANNELA ANNE MIRANDA

 

 
o Contact time
o Physical nature of the object being
disinfected
o Temperature and pH

YAMBAO, CHANNELA ANNE MIRANDA