antisepsis
Sterile wound care
Antisepsis is the practice of preventing infection by destroying or inhibiting microorganisms.
The term applies especially to techniques used in surgery and wound care—sterilizing instruments, cleaning skin, applying antiseptic solutions.
Before antisepsis became standard medical practice in the nineteenth century, surgical patients routinely died of infections.
Strict antisepsis protocols reduced post-operative mortality dramatically.
Absence of harmful microorganisms
- disinfectionEliminating pathogens from surfaces
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- surgical scrubAntiseptic hand-cleansing protocol
- wound careTreatment of bodily injuries
infection control · germicide · antimicrobial · bacteriostatic · decontamination · microbicide · virucide · fungicide
Agent destroying surface pathogens
- sanitizerAgent that reduces microbes
- germicideAgent that kills microbes
- biocideChemical that kills organisms
- sterilantAgent destroying all microorganisms
chlorhexidine · iodine · alcohol · hydrogen peroxide · povidone-iodine · phenol · bleach · betadine
Cleaning palms with soap
- sanitationCleanliness for public health
- soapFatty alkali cleanser
- scrubbingCleaning by rubbing hard
- hand hygieneCleaning one's palms
sanitizer · antibacterial · pasteurization · fumigation · autoclave · sterilization · decontamination · hygienist
Preventive medical treatment
- infection preventionHalting pathogen transmission
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- precautionPreventive safety measure
- barrier methodContraception using physical blockage
protective measures · quarantine · isolation · sterile field · risk reduction · postoperative care
asepsis
Absence of harmful microorganisms
- disinfectionEliminating pathogens from surfaces
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- surgical scrubAntiseptic hand-cleansing protocol
wound care · infection control · germicide · antimicrobial · bacteriostatic · decontamination · microbicide · virucide · fungicide · postoperative care
disinfectant
Agent destroying surface pathogens
- sanitizerAgent that reduces microbes
- germicideAgent that kills microbes
- biocideChemical that kills organisms
sterilant · chlorhexidine · iodine · alcohol · hydrogen peroxide · povidone-iodine · phenol · bleach · betadine · isopropyl
handwashing
Cleaning palms with soap
- sanitationCleanliness for public health
- soapFatty alkali cleanser
- scrubbingCleaning by rubbing hard
hand hygiene · sanitizer · antibacterial · pasteurization · fumigation · autoclave · sterilization · decontamination · hygienist · gloving
prophylaxis
Preventive medical treatment
- infection preventionHalting pathogen transmission
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- precautionPreventive safety measure
barrier method · protective measures · quarantine · isolation · sterile field · risk reduction · postoperative care
- childbirthcontractions, labor, pushing, dilation, birth
- sterilizationsterilization, autoclaving, autoclave, disinfecting, sanitizing
- microbiologybacteria, bacterium, microbe, microbes, microorganisms
- food safetyfood safety, food hygiene, food handling, food poisoning, contamination
antisepsissepsis
Dangerous inflammatory infection response
infection · contamination · putrefaction · suppuration · festering
antiseptic, septic, aseptic, sepsis, septic tank, septicemia, antiseptics, antiseptically