Antisepsis, Disinfection, and Sterilization : Types, Action, and Resistance

An examination of the various chemical and physical antisepsis, disinfection, and sterilization methods used for infection prevention and contamination control. * Presents a comprehensive review of the various chemical and physical antisepsis, disinfection, and sterilization methods, including types, practical uses, the spectrum of activity, advantages, disadvantages, and modes of action. * Offers background information on microbiology, including a discussion of the spectrum of action, determination of efficacy, and common variables that affect the performance of antisepsis, disinfection, and sterilization methods. * Covers the mechanisms of action of biocides in four general groups: oxidizing agents, cross-linking agents, action by transfer of energy, and other structure-disrupting agents. * Explores the demonstrated natural and acquired mechanisms that microorganisms employ to resist the biocidal effects of chemical and physical processes. * Serves as a reference for microbiologists, chemists, facilities managers, health care professionals, infection and contamination control practitioners, application engineers, and students. This title is published by the American Society of Microbiology Press and distributed by Taylor and Francis in rest of world territories.