Textbook Question
Describe three types of microbes that are extremely resistant to antimicrobial treatment, and explain why they are resistant.
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Ch. 9 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Environment
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - A Brief History of Microbiology31
- Ch. 2 - The Chemistry of Microbiology28
- Ch. 3 - Cell Structure and Function39
- Ch. 4 - Microscopy, Staining, and Classification25
- Ch. 5 - Microbial Metabolism51
- Ch. 6 - Microbial Nutrition and Growth37
- Ch. 7 - Microbial Genetics51
- Ch. 8 - Recombinant DNA Technology21
- Ch. 9 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Environment36
- Ch. 10 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Body: Antimicrobial Drugs21
- Ch. 11 - Characterizing and Classifying Prokaryotes29
- Ch. 12 - Characterizing and Classifying Eukaryotes34
- Ch. 13 - Characterizing and Classifying Viruses, Viroids, and Prions23
- Ch. 14 - Infection, Infectious Diseases, and Epidemiology35
- Ch. 15 - Innate Immunity34
- Ch. 16 - Adaptive Immunity21
- Ch. 17 - Immunization and Immune Testing29
- Ch. 18 - Immune Disorders22
- Ch. 19 - Pathogenic Gram-Positive Bacteria25
- Ch. 20 - Pathogenic Gram-Negative Cocci and Bacilli28
- Ch. 21 - Rickettsias, Chlamydias, Spirochetes, and Vibrios25
- Ch. 22 - Pathogenic Fungi47
- Ch. 23 - Parasitic Protozoa, Helminths, and Arthropod Vectors44
- Ch. 24 - Pathogenic DNA Viruses23
- Ch. 25 - Pathogenic RNA Viruses30
- Ch. 26 - Applied and Industrial Microbiology29
- Ch. 27 - Microbial Ecology and Microbiomes22
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 9, Problem 1
In practical terms in everyday use, which of the following statements provides the definition of sterilization?
a. Sterilization eliminates all organisms and viruses
b. Sterilization eliminates harmful microorganisms and viruses
c. Sterilization eliminates prions
d. Sterilization eliminates hyperthermophiles
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the concept of sterilization in microbiology. Sterilization is a process aimed at completely removing or destroying all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores, from an object or environment.
Step 2: Analyze each option in the context of this definition. Option (a) states that sterilization eliminates all organisms and viruses, which aligns with the comprehensive removal of all microbial life.
Step 3: Consider option (b), which limits elimination to harmful microorganisms and viruses. This is more characteristic of disinfection, not sterilization, because sterilization is not selective and removes all microbes regardless of their harm.
Step 4: Evaluate option (c), which mentions elimination of prions. Prions are notoriously resistant to sterilization methods, so standard sterilization does not guarantee their removal.
Step 5: Review option (d), which focuses on hyperthermophiles. While sterilization may kill many organisms, it is not defined by targeting hyperthermophiles specifically.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Definition of Sterilization
Sterilization is the process that destroys or removes all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. It ensures that an object or environment is completely free of any living microorganisms, making it safe for medical or laboratory use.
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Situations Warranting Different Levels of Microbial Growth Control
Scope of Microbial Elimination
Sterilization targets all microorganisms, not just harmful or pathogenic ones. This includes both vegetative cells and resistant forms like bacterial spores, which are often more difficult to eliminate than regular microbes.
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Limitations Regarding Prions
Prions are infectious proteins that are highly resistant to conventional sterilization methods. Standard sterilization may not reliably eliminate prions, requiring specialized procedures, so sterilization does not always guarantee prion removal.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Compare and contrast four tests that have been developed to measure the effectiveness of disinfectants.
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Textbook Question
Which of the following terms best describes the disinfecting of cafeteria plates?
a. Pasteurization
b. Antisepsis
c. Sterilization
d. Sanitization
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Textbook Question
Which of the following substances or processes kills microorganisms on laboratory surfaces?
a. Antiseptics
b. Disinfectants
c. Degermers
d. Pasteurization
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Textbook Question
Calculate the decimal reduction time (D) for the two temperatures in the following graph.
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