Study on

Sterilizatio
n and
Disinfectio
n
Submitted To: Submitted
Dr. Mohammad Ferdousur Rahman • By:
2209002 • 2209018
Khan • 2209004 • 2209019
Professor • 2209006 • 2209021
Dept. of Microbiology and Hygiene • 2209007 • 2209027
Faculty of Veterinary Science • 2209016 • 2209029
Bangladesh Agricultural University • 2209017 • 2209030
What is
Sterilization?
Sterilization may be defined
as the process of destruction
or elimination of all
pathogenic microorganisms
and organisms capable of
giving rise to infection such
as all spores, bacteria, fungi
etc., all disease-causing
microbes.
 Methods of
sterilization

Physical sterilization is a Chemical sterilization is

method of sterilization to a method of sterilization to
destroy the microorganism make surface free from
by using physical methods microorganisms using
like dry and wet heat, certain chemicals like,
filtration and radiation chlorine, formaldehyde and
ethanol
Methods of sterilization
 Sterilization Using
Chemicals
o Chemical agents: Performs protein coagulation & disruption of cell
membrane resulting an exposure , damage & loss of contents.

o Chemical alcohols: Commonly used are Ethyl alcohol & Isopropyl

alcohol and must be utilized at concentrations of 60-90%.

o Aldehyde Formaldehyde: Contains bactericidal & it has a great

effect on viruses. Used to preserve anatomical specimen & destroy
anthrax spores on hair & wool.

o Phenols: Causes cell membrane damage , releasing cell contents

& causing lysis.
 Sterilization Using
Chemicals
o Ethylene oxide: Utilized on instruments such as heart-lung
machines, respirators , dental equipment ,artifact books & clothing.

o Formaldehyde gas: Utilized for fumigation of operational

theaters & clinic rooms . After fumigation doors ought to be sealed &
left unopened for 24 hours.

o Beta propiolactone(BPL): Equipped for killing all microorganisms

& is exceptionally dynamic against infections.
 HEA
DRY HEAT
T
o Flaming: In this method heating
instruments over the fire until they become
hot in red.

o Incineration: It is a process that involves

the combustion of organic substances
contained in waste materials.

o Hot air oven: An electrical device used

for sterilization which can be set at Fig. Hot Air Oven
minimum to maximum temperature from
50˚C to 300˚C. Most widely used method
of sterilization by dry heat.
 HEA
MOIST HEAT
T
o Temperature below 100°C : This method is done by holding period
at 63˚C for 30 minutes or 72˚C for 15-20 minutes followed by cooling.
Pasteurization of milk

o Temperature at 100°C: Steam at atmospheric pressure is used to

sterilize culture media. The first exposure kills vegetative bacteria
and next exposure will kill vegetative bacteria that mature from the
spore. It is intermittent sterilization by holding at a temperature of
100˚C for 20 minutes on three consecutive days.
 HEA
MOIST HEAT
T
o Temperature above 100°C:
An autoclave or steam
sterilizer uses steam to
sterilize equipment and other
objects like microscopic
organisms, infections,
parasites, and spores . Prions
may not be annihilated via
autoclaving at the regular
134˚C for 3 minutes or 121˚C
Fig: Autoclave
for 15 minutes.
Sterilizer
 PRESSU
RE
o High-pressure processing (HPP) preserves food using intense pressure.

o HPP kills germs and stops enzymes, ensuring food safety.

o Food properties like shape and nutrients stay intact with HPP, as it doesn't use heat.

o Proteins change under pressure, altering cell structure.

o Membrane lipids and proteins also change, causing leakage of nucleic acids.

o Combining pascalization with heat kills spores effectively.

o Pascalization works well in acidic foods like yogurt and fruit and can be used for both
liquids and solids.
 FILTRATI
ON
Filtration assists with eliminating microorganisms from heat-labile fluids
such as sera and solutions of antibiotics.

Types of Filters :

o Candle filters: These filters are used for the purification of water for industrial
and drinking purposes. These are made under various grades of porosity.

o Asbestos filters: are disposable and single usage. They tend to alkalinize filtered
fluids. Sintered glass filters These filters have low absorptive properties. They are
brittle and costly.

o Membrane filters: These filters are made of cellulose esters or other polymers.
They are usually used for water purification and analysis, sterility testing, and
preparation of solutions
 LIGH
T
Ultraviolet (UV) Light: UV light is categorized into three types
based on wavelength:

UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-C light, which has a wavelength range of
200 to 280 nanometers, is particularly effective for sterilization and
disinfection purposes.

UV-C light is germicidal, meaning it can inactivate microorganisms by

disrupting their DNA and RNA, thus preventing them from
reproducing. When microorganisms are exposed to UV-C light, their
genetic material absorbs the light, causing damage that renders
them unable to replicate or cause infections.
 LIGH
T
Applications: UV light is commonly used for disinfection in various
settings, including healthcare facilities, laboratories, water treatment
plants, and food processing industries. It is employed to disinfect
surfaces, air, and water.
 RADIATIO
2 types of radiation: N
o Non-ionizing radiation: Infrared is
used for rapid mass sterilization of
prepacked items such as syringes,
and catheters. UV is used for
disinfecting enclosed areas such as
halls, operation theatres, and labs.

o Ionizing radiation: Gamma rays and

x-rays are used for sterilizing plastics,
Fig. Radiation
syringes, swabs, catheters, animal
feeds, cardboard, oils, and metal foils.
 ULTRASOU
ND
o Ultrasonic waves (20-40 kHz) clean and kill bacteria

o Create bubbles in a cleaning fluid.

o Collapsing bubbles generate shock waves, removing dirt and bacteria.

o Effectiveness depends on the right cleaning fluid.

o Airborne sound waves also kill bacteria by heating.

o Sound strength, duration, and distance affect effectiveness.

o Effective against bacteria spores.

o Bacteria absorb sound differently, affecting spore destruction.

o Commonly used for cleaning surgical and dental instruments before sterilization.
 PASTEURIZAT
ION
Pasteurization is a heat treatment that kills any pathogenic bacteria or all microbes in
food and drink.

Methods of Pasteurization:

i. Batch Pasteurization:

o Occurs at 63 ℃ for 30 minutes.

o Follows the low-temperature-long-time (LTLT)
principle.
o 2 significant steps are rapid heating and immediate
cooling.
 PASTEURIZAT
ION:
Methods of Pasteurization

ii. Continuous Pasteurization:

o Most common process in pasteurizing milk and milk by-products. 2 types of

methods available.
o High-temperature short time (HTST) - continuous flow pasteurization process at 72
℃ with a holding period of 15 seconds followed by immediate cooling below 10 ℃
o Ultra high temperature (UHT)- commercial pasteurization carried out at a
temperature exceeding 135-150 ℃ with a 2-5 second holding period followed by
immediate cooling.
 TYNDALLIZATI
ON
Tyndallization or fractional sterilization and
discontinuous heating involves boiling the
goods to be sterilized in their cans or jars at
100 degrees centigrade for about 15 to 20
minutes a day, for three days in a row.

o A moist heat sterilization.

o Affects the microbiological stability of the
material subjected to this process.
o Used to sterilize liquids or culture media
containing substances sensitive to
temperatures above 100 °C.
 TYNDALLIZATI
ON
Mechanism of action of Moist heat:
Kills micro organisms by denaturation & coagulation of proteins.

Uses of Tyndallization:
o It is used for culture media containing like gelatin, egg, serum and sugar.
o It kills vegetative forms(including spores),so its very effective method for
sterilization.
 IMPORTANCE AND APPLICATIONS OF
STREILIZATION
IMPORTANCE APPLICATIONS

o Prevents the transmission o Medical industry

of pathogenic & surgeries
microorganisms into body.

o Prevents contamination of o Research &

instruments in various laboratories.
fields along Pharmaceutical
fields
o Vaccine & biological
o Used in food industries, productions
creating sterile dosage
forms & sterility testing
What is Disinfection?
Disinfection is the process,
which involves the
elimination of most
pathogenic microorganisms
(excluding bacterial spores)
on inanimate objects. So it is
a crucial process to
eliminate pathogenic
organisms.
 TYPES OF
DISINFECTANTS
i. Chemical disinfectants:
o Chlorine-based disinfectants
o Alcohol-based disinfectants
o Quaternary ammonium
compounds
o Phenolic compounds

ii. Physical disinfectants:

o Heat (moist heat vs. dry heat)
o UV radiation
Fig. Chemical
o Filtration disinfectants
 FACTORS INFLUENCING DISINFECTION
EFFICACY
• Concentration of Disinfectant:
o Higher concentrations generally lead to more effective microbial
kill.
o There's a point of diminishing returns where increasing
concentration may not significantly improve efficacy.

• Contact Time:
o Adequate contact time is essential for the disinfectant to
effectively kill microorganisms.
o Different disinfectants require different contact times for optimal
efficacy.
 FACTORS INFLUENCING DISINFECTION
EFFICACY
• Temperature:
o Higher temperatures enhance disinfectant activity by accelerating chemical
reactions.
o Extreme temperatures can degrade disinfectants or alter their
effectiveness.
• pH:
o pH affects the activity of disinfectants; some are more effective at specific
pH levels.
o pH can influence disinfectant stability and compatibility with surfaces.
• Presence of Organic Matter:
o Organic matter can reduce disinfectant efficacy by binding to the
disinfectant.
o Pre-cleaning surfaces to remove organic matter is essential for optimal
disinfection efficacy.
 APPLICATIONS OF
DISINFECTION
• Healthcare settings:
o Preventing infections among patients, healthcare
workers, and visitors.
o Sterilizing medical instruments, equipment, and
surfaces.

• Food industry:
o Ensuring the safety and quality of food products.
o Sanitizing food processing equipment, surfaces, and
packaging materials.

• Water treatment:
o Ensuring the safety of drinking water.
o Eliminating or deactivating pathogenic
microorganisms in water sources.
 APPLICATIONS OF
DISINFECTION
• Veterinary and Agricultural Settings:
o Controlling the spread of infectious diseases
among animals.
o Sanitizing animal housing areas, equipment,
and tools.

• Household Disinfection Practices:

o Maintaining a clean and hygienic environment
at home.
o Sanitizing high-touch surfaces and areas prone
to contamination.

In each setting, disinfection is crucial for preventing

the spread of infections, protecting public
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STERILIZATION AND
DISINFECTION
STERILIZATION DISINFFECTION
This technique minimizes the number
This technique is the elimination of
of microorganisms but does not
all the microorganisms. eliminate them completely.

This method kills bacteria as well as This method does not eliminate
vegetative spores. bacterial spores.
It is an absolute condition. It is not an absolute condition.

No viable organisms present on Disinfected objects has the lesser

sterilized items. number of the microorganisms.

Requires 1 minute contact time. Requires 10 minute contact time.

 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STERILIZATION AND
DISINFECTION
STERILIZATION DISINFFECTION
It is used in surgical operations and
Disinfectants are commonly used in
various labs where sterile conditions
are pre- requisite. daily life.
This process is used for
This method is used for
decontamination of food, surgical
equipments and instruments and decontamination of surface and air.
several medicines
Includes Dry heat, Moist heat, Includes Chlorination, Coagulation,
chemical and radiation sterilization Sedimentation and filtration etc.
etc.
Follows a strict protocol to completely Does not require a strict guideline to
kill all the pathogens. be followed.
Properties of ideal disinfactant