PHYSICAL AND

CHEMICAL
CONTROL OF
MICROORGANISMS
At the end of the lesson the students
will be able to:
◦Elucidate ways of identifying
microorganisms.
◦Enumerate different ways of controlling
microorganisms using physical and
chemical control.
ABILITY OF MICROORGANISM TO RESIST DISINFECTANTS
 INHIBITING THE GROWTH OF
MICROBES IN VITRO
◦Before discussing the various
methods used to destroy or inhibit the
growth of microbes, a number of
terms should be understood as they
apply to microbiology.
 Sterilization
◦Involves the destruction or
elimination of all microbes, including
cells, spores, and viruses. When
something is sterile, it is devoid of
microbial life.
 Sterilization
◦Dry heat, autoclaving (steam under pressure),
ethylene oxide gas, and various liquid chemicals
(such as formaldehyde) are the principal
sterilizing agents in healthcare facilities. In
some situations, certain types of radiation (e.g.,
ultraviolet light and gamma rays are also used.
 Disinfection
◦Disinfection involves the elimination of most
or all pathogens (except bacterial spores) from
nonliving objects. Chemicals used to disinfect
inanimate objects, such as bedside equipment
and operating rooms, are called
disinfectants.
 ANTISEPTICS and SANITIZATION

◦Antiseptics are solutions used to disinfect skin

and other living tissues. Sanitization is the
reduction of microbial populations to levels
considered safe by public health standards,
such as those applied to restaurants.
 Microbicidal Agents

◦General terms like germicidal agents

(germicides), biocidal agents (biocides), and
microbicidal agents (microbicides) are
disinfectants or antiseptics that kill microbes.
Bactericidal agents (bactericides)
specifically kill bacteria, but not
necessarily bacterial endospores.
Because spore coats are thick and
resistant to the effects of many
disinfectants, sporicidal agents are
required to kill bacterial endospores.
Fungicidal agents (fungicides) kill fungi, including
fungal spores.
Algicidal agents (algicides) are used to kill algae in
swimming pools and hot tubs.
Viricidal agents (or virucidal agents) destroy
viruses.
Pseudomonicidal agents kill Pseudomonas species,
and tuberculocidal agents kill M. tuberculosis
Microbistatic Agents
◦A microbistatic agent is a drug or chemical that inhibits
reproduction of microorganisms, but does not necessarily
kill them. A bacteriostatic agent is one that specifically
inhibits the metabolism and reproduction of bacteria. Some
of the drugs used to treat bacterial diseases are
bacteriostatic, whereas others are bactericidal. Freeze-
drying (lyophilization) and rapid freezing (using liquid
nitrogen) are microbistatic techniques that are used to
preserve microbes for future use or study.
Lyophilization
◦is a process that combines dehydration (drying) and
freezing. Lyophilized materials are frozen in a vacuum; the
container is then sealed to maintain the inactive state. This
freeze-drying method is widely used in industry to preserve
foods, antibiotics, antisera, microorganisms, and other
biologic materials.
 SEPSIS, ASEPSIS, ASEPTIC
TECHNIQUE, ANTISEPSIS,
AND ANTISEPTIC TECHNIQUE
◦Sepsis refers to the presence of pathogens
in blood or tissues, whereas asepsis means
the absence of pathogens.
◦aseptic techniques, are used to eliminate
and exclude pathogens. Earlier in this
chapter, you learned of the importance of
using aseptic technique in the microbiology
laboratory when inoculating culture media.
◦Antisepsis is the prevention of infection.
Antiseptic technique, developed by Joseph
Lister in 1867. Antiseptic technique is a
type of aseptic technique. Lister used dilute
carbolic acid (phenol) to cleanse surgical
wounds and equipment and a carbolic acid
aerosol to prevent harmful microorganisms
from entering the surgical field or
contaminating the patient
◦Antisepsis is the prevention of infection.
Antiseptic technique, developed by Joseph
Lister in 1867. Antiseptic technique is a
type of aseptic technique. Lister used dilute
carbolic acid (phenol) to cleanse surgical
wounds and equipment and a carbolic acid
aerosol to prevent harmful microorganisms
from entering the surgical field or
contaminating the patient.
 USING PHYSICAL
METHODS TO INHIBIT
MICROBIAL GROWTH
◦The methods used to destroy or inhibit
microbial life are either physical or
chemical, and sometimes both types are
used. Physical methods commonly used in
hospitals, clinics, and laboratories to
destroy or control pathogens include heat,
the combination of heat and pressure,
desiccation, radiation, sonic disruption,
and filtration.
 HEAT
◦Heat is the most practical, efficient, and inexpensive method of
sterilization of those inanimate objects and materials that can
withstand high temperatures. Because of these advantages, it is
the means most frequently used.
◦The thermal death point (TDP) of any particular species of
microorganism is the lowest temperature that will kill all the
organisms in a standardized pure culture within a specified period.
The thermal death time (TDT) is the length of time necessary
to sterilize a pure culture at a specified temperature.
HEAT
DRY HEAT
◦ Dry-heat baking in a thermostatically
controlled oven provides effective
sterilization of metals, glassware, some
powders, oils, and waxes.
◦ Incineration (burning) is an effective
means of destroying contaminated
disposable materials
◦ Flaming the surface of metal forceps and
wire bacteriologic loops is an effective
way to kill microorganisms and, for many
years, was a common laboratory
procedure.
HEAT
Moist Heat
◦heat applied in the presence of moisture, as in boiling or steaming, is
faster and more effective than dry heat, and can be accomplished at
a lower temperature; thus, it is less destructive to many materials
that otherwise would be damaged at higher temperatures. Moist
heat causes proteins to coagulate (as occurs when eggs are hard
boiled).
HEAT
Moist Heat
◦An autoclave is like a large metal pressure cooker that uses steam
under pressure to completely destroy all microbial life.
◦Autoclaves should be set to run 20 minutes at a pressure of 15
psi and a temperature of 121.5°C.
◦Autoclaving at a pressure of 15 psi, at a temperature of 121.5°C, for
20 minutes, kills vegetative microorganisms, bacterial endospores,
and viruses, as long as they are not protected by pus, feces,
vomitus, blood, or other proteinaceous substances.
HEAT
Moist Heat
 COLD

◦Most microorganisms are not killed by cold

temperatures and freezing, but their
metabolic activities are slowed, greatly
inhibiting their growth.
COLD

Slow freezing Rapid freezing

◦causes ice crystals to form ◦using liquid nitrogen, is a
within cells and may rupture good way to preserve
the cell membranes and cell foods, biologic specimens,
walls of some bacteria; and bacterial cultures. It
hence, slow freezing should places bacteria into a state
not be used as a way to
of suspended animation
preserve or store bacteria
Desiccation

◦For many centuries, foods have been

preserved by drying.

Photo courtesy:
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C_Microbio_13_02_Dessicated.jpg?revision=1&siz
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RADIATION
◦The rays of the sun include the long infrared (heat) rays, the
visible light rays, and the shorter ultraviolet (UV) rays. The UV
rays, which do not penetrate glass and building materials, are
effective only in the air and on surfaces.
◦They do, however, penetrate cells and, thus, can cause
damage to DNA. When this occurs, genes may be so severely
damaged that the cell dies (especially unicellular
microorganisms) or is drastically changed.
RADIATION
◦X-rays and gamma and beta rays of certain wavelengths
from radioactive materials may be lethal or cause mutations
in microorganisms and tissue cells because they damage DNA
and proteins within those cells. Studies performed in radiation
research laboratories have demonstrated that these radiations
can be used for the prevention of food spoilage, sterilization of
heat-sensitive surgical equipment, preparation of vaccines, and
treatment of some chronic diseases such as cancer, all of which
are very practical applications for laboratory research.
RADIATION
◦You can identify irradiated
products by looking for
the Radura symbol, shown
here. It will be on the food
label or the product sign with
one of these statements:
“Treated with radiation” or
“Treated by irradiation.”
Filtration

◦Filters of various pore sizes are used to filter or

separate cells, larger viruses, bacteria, and
certain other microorganisms from the liquids or
gases in which they are suspended.
◦Microbes, even those as small as viruses, can be
removed from liquids using filters having
appropriate pore sizes.
 USING CHEMICAL
AGENTS TO INHIBIT
MICROBIAL GROWTH
Disinfectants

◦Chemical disinfection refers to the use of chemical

agents to inhibit the growth of pathogens, either
temporarily or permanently. The mechanism by which
various disinfectants kill cells varies from one type of
disinfectant to another.
Disinfectants

◦Chemical disinfection refers to the use of chemical

agents to inhibit the growth of pathogens, either
temporarily or permanently. The mechanism by which
various disinfectants kill cells varies from one type of
disinfectant to another.
Directions for
preparing the proper
dilution of a
disinfectant must be
followed carefully,
because too weak or
too strong a
concentration is
usually less effective
than the proper
concentration
Antiseptic

◦Antimicrobial chemical agents that can safely be

applied to skin are called antiseptics.
◦An antiseptic merely reduces the number of
organisms on a surface; it does not penetrate pores
and hair follicles to destroy microorganisms residing
there.
THANK YOU 