Sterilant
Sterilant
Sterilant (pronunciation: /ˈstɛrɪlənt/) is a substance that kills all forms of life, including microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, spores, and fungi.
Etymology
The term "sterilant" is derived from the Latin word "sterilis," which means barren or unproductive. It was first used in the medical context in the late 19th century.
Usage
Sterilants are widely used in the medical field, particularly in surgery and other procedures that require a sterile environment. They are also used in the pharmaceutical industry and in laboratories to sterilize equipment and prevent contamination.
Types of Sterilants
There are several types of sterilants, including:
- Ethylene oxide: A gas that is highly effective at killing microorganisms, but can be hazardous to humans.
- Hydrogen peroxide: A liquid that is often used in low-temperature sterilization processes.
- Formaldehyde: A gas that is used to sterilize heat-sensitive materials.
- Glutaraldehyde: A liquid that is used to sterilize medical and dental equipment.
Related Terms
- Disinfectant: A substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms, but may not kill all forms of life.
- Antiseptic: A substance that prevents the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.
- Sanitizer: A substance that reduces the number of microorganisms to a safe level.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sterilant
- Wikipedia's article - Sterilant
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski