When using chemicals to kill microbes on surfaces, _________________ are for use on inanimate objects and _______________ are considered safe to use on living tissues.
antiseptics, disinfectants
disinfectants, antiseptics
disinfectants, sterilizers
antibiotics, disinfectants
A chemical is used to clean the surface of an examination table. The previous patient was a dog that has experienced chronic bouts of interdigital dermatitis. After examination, the veterinarian diagnosed Staphylococcal pyoderma with secondary infection by the fungus Malassezia. What type of disinfectant should you use to clean this table after the examination?
A virucide and a bacteriostat
A bacteriocide and a fungicide
A parasitocide and a virucide
A fungicide and a parasitocide
All of the following should be considered when choosing an ideal disinfectant except
amount of tissue irritation or surface damage the chemical causes.
ability of the chemical to become inactivated.
how many microbes the chemical works against.
how pleasant the chemical smells.
the cost of the chemical.
Which of the following statements is true about alcohol as a disinfectant?
Alcohol is effective in destroying Bacillus spores
Alcohol is effective against nonenveloped viruses but worthless against enveloped viruses
Alcohol is not effective as a broad-spectrum antibacterial
Alcohol’s mode of action involves dissolving pathogen membranes and inactivating proteins
A farmer is struggling with infectious interdigital dermatitis in his dairy herd. After consulting with his veterinarian, he has decided to invest in a foot bath system. Since he knows a bit about the antimicrobial capabilities of isopropyl alcohol, he would like to use this (in diluted form) as his foot bath chemical. Why would you advise against this?
Alcohols are volatile and flammable
Isopropyl alcohol is not effective against all microbes
Isopropyl alcohol would be inactivated by the organic materials in the foot bath
All of the above are reasons not to use this compound
As a technician is cleaning the runs to the clinic’s dog room, she runs out of 10% bleach. In an effort to complete her cleaning, she grabs a bottle of color-safe bleach from the laundry room and decides to dilute it to 10% with tap water to make a working solution of bleach. What is a concern with this procedure?
Water should not be used as a diluent, as it inactivates the chloride compound
Color safe bleach is just a diluted form of regular bleach, so her dilution makes it too weak
Color safe bleach is different than regular bleach, and has less disinfection capabilities
She shouldn’t be using bleach at all, as dogs are very sensitive to chlorine
Chlorhexidine is a commonly used antiseptic used in veterinary medicine. All except one of the following are true regarding chlorhexidine. Which is incorrect?
Chlorhexidine functions by damaging cell membrane of the pathogen and lysing the cell
Chlorhexidine is effective against both enveloped and naked viruses
Chlorhexidine maintains residual activity on skin surfaces
Compared to alcohol, chlorhexidine resists inactivation by organic matter
Chlorhexidine can be damaging as an otic preparation if the tympanic membrane is ruptured
What types of organisms are quaternary ammonium compounds effective against?
Gram-positive bacteria
Gram-negative bacteria
Non-enveloped (“naked”) viruses
Enveloped viruses
Both A and D (Gram-positive bacteria & Enveloped viruses)
Which common disinfectant should be chosen to clean a piece of medical-grade plastic tubing that has a slimy film on its inside surface?
Isopropyl alcohol
10% bleach
Tween buffer
Glutaraldehyde
Iodine is effective in disinfecting/sanitizing all of the following except
spattered bloody feces from a dog with parvovirus.
nasal secretion of a dog with kennel cough.
a ringworm lesion on a cat.
a sample containing Clostridium tetani spores.
What occurs when populations of microorganisms are exposed to low concentrations of antimicrobial chemicals?
Their growth is stopped
Selective pressure is applied to create death
Selective pressure is applied that creates resistance
Their DNA is denatured
Why are pseudomonas species highly resistant to disinfection?
They grow in large numbers
They do not create a biofilm
They cannot attach to living tissue
They exude a glycocalyx
Common sites for nosocomial infections include all except
orthopedic implants.
urinary tracts.
endotracheal tubes.
pastures.
What can make disinfectants less effective?
Hard water
Improper dilution
Inappropriate selection based on organism
All of these
Non enveloped viruses common in veterinary hospitals include all but
canine parvovirus.
feline panleukopenia.
feline calicivirus.
rabies virus.
What is not important to consider when choosing disinfectants?
cost
color
stability
spectrum of action
What is alcohol’s main mechanism of action against pathogens?
Destroy its DNA
Slows bacterial cell wall growth
Dissolves lipids
Gets them drunk
Applying alcohol to open wounds is not recommended because
alcohol is flammable.
prolonged contact with alcohol can corrode metal surfaces.
it effectively kills all pathogens instantly and prevents all infections.
it causes pain and may also facilitate the survival of pathogens.
Why do hand sanitizers include alcohol?
Alcohol is a surfactant.
Alcohol has a quick kill time.
Alcohol doesn’t affect the skins lipids.
Alcohol can be applied to open wounds.
Why should a chlorine-disinfected cat cage be thoroughly rinsed before returning the cat?
To remove chlorine-resistant bacteria
To activate the disinfecting properties of chlorine
To decrease the risk of skin irritation
To allow the cage to dry
Instead of free-iodine compounds, iodophors ______________________________.
are less irritating but have a shorter duration of action
cannot be used on open wounds
are no longer used in Vet medicine
are less irritating and have a longer duration of action
A surfactant is a chemical that
breaks the surface tension of water.
allows easier interaction between organic material and chemicals.
when combined with an iodophor are often referred to as surgical scrubs.
All of the above are true
Phenols are most effective against
gram-positive bacteria.
gram-negative bacteria.
spores.
fungi.
Which is less inactivated by organic material?
Detergents
Quaternary ammonium
Chlorine
Phenols
What is the definition of “Disinfection?”
Removal of all microbial organisms from a surface
Removing visible debris off a surface
General destruction of pathogens
Treatment of an animal ill with an infectious disease
