Antiseptics

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Antiseptics
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Antiseptics

• Antiseptic agents kill or inhibit the growth of
  microorganisms on the external surfaces of the
  body.
• They are different from an antibiotic which
  destroy microorganisms internally and
  disinfectants which destroy microorganisms found
  on non living objects.
• Some common antiseptics include alcohol, iodine
  and hydrogen peroxide,

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Antiseptics

• There is great variation in the ability of
  antiseptics to destroy microorganisms and in
  their effect on living tissue.
• For example, mercuric chloride is a powerful
  antiseptic, but it irritates delicate tissue. In
  contrast, silver nitrate kills fewer germs but
  can be used on the delicate tissues of the eyes
  and throat.
• There is also a great difference in the time
  required for different antiseptics to work.
  Iodine, one of the fastest-working antiseptics,
  kills bacteria within 30 sec.

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History of Antiseptics

• Joseph Lister (1827 1912)
• Pioneered the use of carbolic acid as an
  antiseptic agent and applied it to surgical
  wounds. This prevented the wounds going septic
  began the change towards modern surgical
  practices.

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How Antiseptics Work

• For the growth of bacteria there must be a
  certain food supply, moisture, in most cases
  oxygen, and a certain minimum temperature.
• Antiseptics change this environment in a
  detrimental way for the bacteria.
• Alcohol 70.
• Iodine
• Hydrogen Peroxide

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• But every antiseptic, however good, is more or
  less toxic and irritating to a wounded surface.
  Hence it is that the antiseptic method has been
  replaced in the surgery of today by the aseptic
  method, which relies on keeping free from the
  invasion of bacteria rather than destroying them
  when present.

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