antiseptic

(noun)

Any substance that inhibits the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. Generally includes only those that are used on living objects (as opposed to disinfectants) and aren't transported by the lymphatic system to destroy bacteria in the body (as opposed to antibiotics).

Related Terms

Examples of antiseptic in the following topics:

  • Factors that Affect Germicidal Activity of Chemicals

    • Antibacterials are antiseptics that have the proven ability to act against bacteria.
    • Benzalkonium chloride is used in some pre-operative skin disinfectants (conc. 0.05–0.5%) and antiseptic towels.
    • Used as a skin antiseptic and to treat inflammation of the gums (gingivitis).
    • Other obsolete organomercury antiseptics include bis-(phenylmercuric) monohydrogenborate (Famosept).
    • Used in the form of a powder as an antiseptic baby powder, where it is dusted onto the navel as it heals.

  • Immunization, Antiseptics, and Antibiotics

    • Understanding microbes gives us the ability to fight pathogens using immunization, antiseptics, and antibiotics.
    • However, some microbes are human pathogens; to combat these, we use immunization, antiseptics, and antibiotics.
    • Today, an antiseptic is judged by its effect on pure cultures of a defined microbe or on their vegetative and spore forms.
    • Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction.
    • Compare immunization, antiseptics and antibiotics, and how they are used to combat human pathogens

  • Biological Control of Microbes

    • Antiseptics are chemicals used on living tissue to decrease the number of microbes present in that tissue.
    • Disinfectants and antiseptics affect bacteria in many ways.

  • Damage to Proteins and Nucleic Acids

    • Depending on their application, bacteriostatic antibiotics, disinfectants, antiseptics, and preservatives can be distinguished.

  • Considerations in Microbial Control

    • Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue or skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction.
    • Antiseptics are generally distinguished from antibiotics by the latter's ability to be transported through the lymphatic system to destroy bacteria within the body, and from disinfectants, which destroy microorganisms found on non-living objects.

  • Bacterial Skin Diseases

    • For generations, the disease was treated with an application of the antiseptic gentian violet.

  • Control of Nosocomial Infections

    • The goal of hand hygiene is to eliminate the transient flora with a careful and proper performance of hand washing, using different kinds of soap, both normal and antiseptic, and alcohol-based gels.

  • Types of Disinfectants

    • Alcohols, usually ethanol or isopropanol, are sometimes used as a disinfectant, but more often as an antiseptic, the distinction being that alcohol tends to be used on living tissue rather than nonliving surfaces.