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GLOSSARY
Aeration
to expose ethylene oxide gas-sterilized item to warm, circulating air to remove trace ethylene oxide.
Alkylation
a chemical term usually defined as the replacement of an available hydrogen atom within a chemical group such as the amino, carboxyl, or hydroxyl groups with an hydroxyethyl radical.
Antiseptic
a mild disinfectant used on the skin and mucuos membrane to lower the count and inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Asepsis
absence of microorganisms that cause disease; freedom of infection; exclusion of microorganisms.
Autoclave
a steam-pressure vessel that sterilizes by steam under pressure at temperature
above
1000 C.
- Bacillus Stereathermophillus
- a highly heat-resistant, spore-forming microorganism used in
form on commercially prepared spore strips for checking sterilization
effectiveness in steam sterilizers.
- Bacillus Subtilis
- a spore-forming microorganism used in spore form on commercially
prepared spore strips for checking sterilization effectiveness
in ethylene oxide sterilizers.
- Bactericidal
- having the characteristic of destroying bacteria.
- Bactereostatic
- inhibiting or retarding bacterial growth.
- Bioburden
- the number of microorganisms with which an object is contaminated.
- Biological Indicator
- a device intended for use by a health care provider to accompany
products being sterilized through a sterilization procedure and
to monitor adequacy of sterilization. The device consists of a
known number of microorganisms (usually bacterial spores), of
known resistance to the mode of sterilization, in or on a carrier
and enclosed in a protective package. Subsequent growth or failure
of the microorganisms to grow under suitable conditions indicates
the adequacy of sterilization.
- Bowie-Dick Test
- a test originated by J.H. Bowie and J. Dick and designed to
challenge the vacuum pump in a high vacuum steam sterilizer.
- Chemical Indicators
- a physical/chemical device employed to monitor one or more process
parameters of the sterilization cycle in order to detect failures
in packaging, loading, and/or sterilizer function. The chemical
indicator usually consists of a sensitive chemical or ink dye,
the sensitivity of which may vary from product to product.
- Contaminated
- possessing infectious organisms or substances.
- Decontamination
- to make safe by removing or reducing contamination by infectious
organisms or other harmful substances.
- Disinfectant
- an agent that kills all growing or vegetative forms of microorganisms,
thus completely eliminating them from inanimate objects.
- Disinfection
- is a process capable of destroying pathogenic microorganisms
but, as ordinarily used, not bacterial spores.
- Ethylene Oxide (EO)
- EO is a colorless, flammable gas that can be used in its 100%
concentration or in compounds with such inert chemicals as Carbon
Dioxide (CO2 ) or Chlorofluorohydrocarbons (CFHC). It is an alkylating
agent whose reaction is primarily with nucleophilic groups: amines,
alcohols, phenols, organic and inorganic acids, and water. Its
biochemical reactions are with the ring nitrogens of purine and
pyrimidine bases and the amino acids and proteins. EO reacts with
the chlorine ion to form ethylene chlorohydrin or with water to
form ethylene glycol.
- Fractional Sterilization
- a method of sterilization that involves alternating exposure
and cooling time for a consecutive period.
- Glutaraldehyde
- a compound used in a aqueous solution as a disinfectant and
a sterilant.
- Infection
- invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms, and the reaction
of tissues.
- Lumen
- the open inner space of a tube, as in a blood vessel, needle,
or catheter.
- Microorganisms
- a plant or animal visible only with microscopic magnification.
- Pathogenic
- producing or capable of producing disease.
- Sanitation
- is a process capable of reducing the number of microbial contaminants
to a relatively safe level. It provides the lowest safety margin
because it does not require or necessarily produce the complete
destruction of any particular microorganisms.
- Spores
- bacteria in a dormant state.
- Sporicidal
- any agent with the ability to kill spores.
- Saturated Steam
- steam holding all the moisture it can hold and still remain
a vapor.
- Sterile
- free of all living microorganisms.
- Sterilization
- is a process capable of destroying all forms of microbial life
on inanimate surfaces.
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