A detailed lecture on the topic Sterilization and Disinfection

1. STERILIZATION AND
DISINFECTION
Dr. Mukta Sharma
Professor and Head
Department of Microbiology
SBB Dental College, Ghaziabad

2. INTRODUCTION
 Microorganisms are the agents of
contamination, infection, and decay.
 Hence it becomes necessary to remove
them from materials and areas.
 Early civilization practiced salting,
smoking and exposure to sunlight .

3. In mid 1800s Lister developed
Aseptic techniques to prevent
contamination of surgical wounds. Prior
to this development:
• Nosocomial infections caused death in
10% of surgeries.
• Up to 25% mothers delivering in
hospitals died due to infection.

4. DEFINITION
STERILIZATION
The process of freeing an article, surface
or medium from microorganisms
including their spores.

5. DISINFECTION:
Reducing the number of
pathogenic microorganisms to the
point where they no longer cause
diseases.

6. Sepsis: Comes from Greek for decay or
putrid. Indicates bacterial contamination.
Asepsis: Absence of significant
contamination.
 Aseptic techniques are used to prevent
contamination of surgical instruments,
medical personnel, and the patient during
surgery.
 Aseptic techniques are also used to
prevent bacterial contamination in food
industry.

7. Bacteriostatic Agent:
An agent that inhibits the growth of
bacteria, but does not necessarily kill
them.

8. Bactericide:
An agent that kills bacteria. Most do not kill
Endospores.
Sporicide:
An agent that kills spores.

9. Methods of Sterilisation
A. Physical Method-
1.Sunlight
2.Heat
3.Ozone
4.Filtration
5.Radiation

10. B.Chemical Methods-
1.Alcohol
2.Aldehydes
3.Phenols
4.Halogens
5.Oxidising Agents
6.Salts
7. Surface Active agents
8.Dydes
9.Gases

11. Methods of Sterilisation
Microbial Control
Methods
Physical Agents Chemical Agents
Mechanical Removal
Methods

12. Physical Agents
Heat Radiation
Dry Moist
Incineration
Dry Oven
Steam Under
Pressure
Boiling Water/Hot Water
Pasteurization
Sterilization
Ionizing Non Ionizing
X Ray, Cathode,
Gamma
Disinfection
UV
Sterilization Disinfection

13. Chemical Agent
Gas Liquids
Sterilization Disinfection Animate Inanimate
Chemotherapy Antiseptics Sterilization Disinfection

14. Mechanical Removal
Methods
Filtration
Air Liquids
Disinfection Sterilization

15. Physical Methods
Sunlight-
Has an active germicidal effect due to its
contact of UV rays
Natural method sterilization in case of
water in tanks, rivers and lakes

16. Dry Heat Sterilization
1.RedHeat
2.Flamming
3.Incenaration
4.Hot air oven

17.  Red Heat
Inoculating wire/loops tips of to forceps and
needles are held in the flame of Bunsen
Burner till they become red hot.
 Flaming
Glasses slides, scalpels and mouth of
culture tubes are passed through flame of
Bunsen Burner without they become red
hot.

19. INCINERATION
This is an excellent method of
destroying materials such as
contaminated cloth, animal
carcasses and pathological
materials.

21. Sterilisation By Hot AirOven:
Hot Air Oven
• Kills by oxidation effects
•The oven utilizes dry heat to
sterilize articles
• Operated between 50oC to
250/300oC.
•A holding period of 160oC for 1 hr
is desirable.
• There is a thermostat controlling
the temperature.
•Double walled insulation keeps the
heat in and conserves energy,

22. Uses:
 To sterilise Forceps, Scissors, Scalpels, Swabs.
 Pharmaceuticals products like Liquid paraffin,
dusting powder, fats and grease.

23. MOIST HEAT STERILIZATION
Kills microorganisms by coagulating their
proteins.

24. MOIST HEAT STERILISATION IS CARRIED OUT
WITH FOLLOWING METHODS
 Temp below 100oC: “Pasteurisation”, Inspissator.
 Temperature at 100oC: Boiling.
 Steam at atmospheric pressure: Koch/Arnold’s
steamer.
 Steam under pressure: Autoclave.

25. Pasteurisation
 Process of killing of pathogens in the milk but
does not sterilize it .
 Milk is heated at 63oC for 30 mins.
(HOLDER METHOD)
 At 72oC for 15-20 Sec. Rapid cooling to 13oC
(FLASH PROCESS)

26. Water Bath

27. HOT WATER BATH
 To inactivate non sporing bacteria for the
preparation of vaccines - Special vaccine
bath at 60oC for one hour is used
 Serum or body fluids containing
coagulable proteins can be sterilized by
heating for 1 hr at 56oC in a water bath for
several successive days.

28. Inspissator

29. INSPISSATOR
 Sterilizes by heating at 80-85oC for half
an hour for 3 successive days
 Used to sterilize media such as
Lowenstein-Jensen & Loefller’s serum

30. TEMPERATURE AT 100OC
Boiling:
Kills vegetative forms of bacterial
pathogens.
 Hepatitis virus: Can survive up to 30
minutes of boiling.
Endospores: Can survive up to 20 hours or
more of boiling

31. Steam Sterilizer

32. STEAM AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
 Steam is generated using a steamer
(Koch/ Arnold)
 Consists of a Tin cabinet
 Has a conical lid to enable the drainage of
condensed steam
 Perforated tray above ensures materials
are surrounded by steam.
 For routine sterilization exposure of 90
mins(at100°C) is used

33. Tyndallisation
For media containing sugar and gelatin
exposure of 100oC for 20 min for 3
successive days is used
The process is termed as
Tyndallisation /Intermittent Sterilization

34. STEAM UNDER PRESSURE - AUTOCLAVE
 Works on the principle of Steam under
pressure
 Invented by Charles Chamberland in 1879.

35. AUTOCLAVE

36.  Autoclave consists of a vertical or a
horizontal cylinder.
 One end has an opening which is meant
for keeping materials to be sterilised.
 The lid is provided with a Pressure gauge,
to measure the pressure
 A safety valve is present to permit the
escape of steam from the chamber

37.  Articles to be sterilised are placed in the
basket provided
 Sterilisation is carried out under pressure
at 121º for 15 mnts.

38. Ozone
 Ozone sterilizer uses oxygen, water and
electricity to produce ozone within the
sterilizer and provide sterilization
 It runs at lower temperature 25-35°C.
 Ozone provides sterility assurance of 10-6
in approximately 4 hrs.

39. Sterilisation by filtration
Filtration helps to remove bacteria from heat
labile liquids such as sera and solutions of
sugar, Antibiotics.
The following filters are used
Candle filters
Asbestos filters
Sintered glass filter
Membrane filters

40. CANDLE FILTER

41. CANDLE FILTERS
 Widely used for purification of water
Two types
(a) Unglazed ceramic/porcelain filter –
Chamberland filter
(b) Diatomaceous earth filters – Berkefeld
filter

42. SEITZ FILTER
ASBESTOS DISCS

43. ASBESTOS FILTER/ SEITZ FILTER
 Disposable single use discs
 Made-up of asbestos (magnesium silicate)
 High adsorbing tendency
 Carcinogenic
Eg: Seitz filter

44. SINTERED GLASS FILTER

45. SINTERED GLASS FILTER
 Prepared by heat fusing powdered glass
particles of graded size
 Cleaned easily, brittle, expensive.

46. MEMBRANE FILTER

47. MEMBRANE FILTERS
 Made of cellulose esters or other polymers
Uses
 Water purification & analysis
 Sterilization & sterility testing
 Preparation of solutions for parenteral use
 Millipore membrane filters are widely used

48. RADIATION
Two types of radiations are used
NON –IONISING
IONISING

49. Non- Ionising radiation:
 Electromagnetic rays with longer wavelength
 Absorbed as heat
 Can be considered as hot air sterilization
 Used in rapid mass sterilization of prepacked
Syringes and catheters (infrared rays)
 UV rays (240-280nm) is used for disinfecting
enclosed area (bacteriological laboratory
inoculation hood, LAF, operation theatres.
 Eg: UV rays and infrared rays

50. IONISING RADIATIONS
 X- rays, gamma rays & cosmic rays.
 High penetrative power
 No appreciable increase in the
temperature – COLD STERILISATION
 Sterilise plastics Syringes, catheters,
grease fabrics metal foils, Swabs, culture-
plates,

51. ULTRASONIC AND SONIC VIBRATION
 Bactericidal
 Microorganisms vary in their sensitivity,
hence no practical value in sterilisation
and disinfection

52. CHEMICAL AGENTS
Chemical agents act by
 Protein coagulation
 Disruption of the cell membrane
 Removal of Sulphydryl groups
 Substrate competition

53. ALCOHOLS
 Ethanol /Isopropyl alcohol are frequently
used
 No action on spores
 Concentration recommended 60-90% in
water
Uses
 Disinfection of clinical thermometer.
 Disinfection of the skin – Venipuncture

54. ALDEHYDES
 Formaldehyde & Glutaraldehyde are
frequently used
 Formaldehyde is bactericidal, sporicidal &
has a lethal effect on viruses.
 Glutaraldehyde is effective against
Tubercle bacilli, fungi and viruses

55. USES
FORMALDEHYDE
 To preserve anatomical specimens
 Destroying Anthrax spores in hair and
wool
 10% Formalin+0.5% Sodium tetra borate
is used to sterilise metal instruments

56. USES
GLUTARALDEHYDE
 Used to treat rubber anesthetic tubes,
Face masks, Plastic endotracheal tubes,
Metal instruments and polythene tubing

57. PHENOLS
 Obtained by distillation of coal tar
 Phenols are powerful microbicidal
substances
 Phenolic derivatives have been widely
used as disinfectants for various purposes
in hospitals
 Eg: chlorhexidine, cresol, chloroxylenol,
hexachlorophane.

58. USES
 Various combinations are used in the
control of pyogenic cocci in surgical &
neonatal units in hospitals.
 Aqueous solutions are used in treatment
of wounds

59. HALOGENS
 Iodine in aqueous and alcoholic solution
has been used widely as a skin
disinfectant
 Actively bactericidal with moderate against
spores
 Chlorine and its compounds have been
used as disinfectants in water supplies &
swimming pools

60. DYES
Two groups of dyes are used
Aniline dyes
Acridine dyes

61. ANILINE DYES
 Are Brilliant green, Malachite green &
Crystal violet
 Active against Gram positive bacteria
 No activity against tubercle bacilli

62. ACRIDINE DYES
 Acridine dyes in use are orange in colour
 Effective against Gram positive than Gram
negative
 Important dyes are Proflavine,
Acriflavine,Euflavine

63. GASES
Ethylene Oxide
Colourless ,Highly penetrating gas
with a sweet ethereal smell.
Effective against all types of
microorganisms including viruses
and spores

64. USES
 Specially used for sterilising heart-lung
machines,respirators,sutures,dental
equipments, books and clothing.
 Also used to sterilise Glass, metal and
paper surfaces ,plastics, oil,some foods
and tobacco.

65. FORMALDEHYDE GAS
 Widely employed for fumigation of
operation theatres and other rooms

66. BETA PROPIOLACTONE
 Used in fumigation
 For sterilisation 0.2% BPL is used
 Has a rapid biocidal activity
 Very effective against viruses

67. SURFACE ACTIVE AGENTS AND
METALLIC SALTS
Substances which reduce the surface
tension –
Surface active agents

68.  Cations are widely used in the form of
quaternary ammonium compounds.
 Markedly bactericidal, active against Gram
positive organisms.
 No action on spores, tubercle bacilli,
viruses

69. METALLIC SALTS
 The salts of silver, copper and mercury are
used as disinfectants.
 Act by coagulating proteins
 Marked bacteriostatic, weak bactericidal
and limited fungicidal activity

70. TESTING OF DISINFECTANATS
 Rideal Walker test
 Chick Martin Test

71. Sterilisation by filtration
Filtration helps to remove bacteria from heat
labile liquids such as sera and solutions of
sugar, Antibiotics.
The following filters are used
Candle filters
Asbestos filters
Sintered glass filter
Membrane filters

72. CANDLE FILTER

73. CANDLE FILTERS
 Widely used for purification of water
Two types
(a) Unglazed ceramic/porcelain filter –
Chamberland filter
(b) Diatomaceous earth filters – Berkefeld
filter

74. SEITZ FILTER
ASBESTOS DISCS

75. ASBESTOS FILTER/ SEITZ FILTER
 Disposable single use discs
 Made-up of asbestos (magnesium silicate)
 High adsorbing tendency
 Carcinogenic
Eg: Seitz filter

76. SINTERED GLASS FILTER

77. SINTERED GLASS FILTER
 Prepared by heat fusing powdered glass
particles of graded size
 Cleaned easily, brittle, expensive.

78. MEMBRANE FILTER

79. MEMBRANE FILTERS
 Made of cellulose esters or other polymers
Uses
 Water purification & analysis
 Sterilization & sterility testing
 Preparation of solutions for parenteral use
 Millipore membrane filters are widely used

80. RADIATION
Two types of radiations are used
NON –IONISING
IONISING

81. Non- Ionising radiation:
 Electromagnetic rays with longer wavelength
 Absorbed as heat
 Can be considered as hot air sterilization
 Used in rapid mass sterilization of prepacked
Syringes and catheters (infrared rays)
 UV rays (240-280nm) is used for disinfecting
enclosed area (bacteriological laboratory
inoculation hood, LAF, operation theatres.
 Eg: UV rays and infrared rays

82. IONISING RADIATIONS
 X- rays, gamma rays & cosmic rays.
 High penetrative power
 No appreciable increase in the
temperature – COLD STERILISATION
 Sterilise plastics Syringes, catheters,
grease fabrics metal foils, Swabs, culture-
plates,

83. ULTRASONIC AND SONIC VIBRATION
 Bactericidal
 Microorganisms vary in their sensitivity,
hence no practical value in sterilisation
and disinfection

84. THANK YOU