Which term is the practice of using antiseptics to eliminate disease-causing microorganisms?

Which term is the practice of using antiseptics to eliminate disease-causing microorganisms?

• A. Antisepsis
• B. Sanitization
• C. Sterilization
• D. Standard Precautions

Answer: (A)

Antisepsis is the practice of applying antiseptics to living tissue to prevent infection by killing or inhibiting the growth of disease-causing microorganisms. This fits the scenario because antiseptics like alcohol, iodine, or chlorhexidine are used on skin or mucous membranes to reduce the microbial load and lower the risk of infection. Sanitization lowers microbial counts to safe levels on surfaces, not specifically about living tissue. Sterilization aims to destroy all microorganisms, including spores, usually on inanimate objects and not through antiseptics on living tissue. Standard Precautions are a broad set of infection-control practices, not a chemical method for treating living tissues.

Antisepsis is the practice of applying antiseptics to living tissue to prevent infection by killing or inhibiting the growth of disease-causing microorganisms. This fits the scenario because antiseptics like alcohol, iodine, or chlorhexidine are used on skin or mucous membranes to reduce the microbial load and lower the risk of infection.

Sanitization lowers microbial counts to safe levels on surfaces, not specifically about living tissue. Sterilization aims to destroy all microorganisms, including spores, usually on inanimate objects and not through antiseptics on living tissue. Standard Precautions are a broad set of infection-control practices, not a chemical method for treating living tissues.