sporicide
Destroys dormant bacteria
A sporicide is an agent that kills spores—the dormant, highly resistant reproductive forms of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms.
Ordinary disinfectants may kill active bacteria but leave spores intact; sporicides destroy both.
The term appears most often in medical and industrial sterilization contexts: The hospital uses a sporicide to ensure surgical instruments are fully sterilized.
Bacterial dormancy structure
- bacillusCylindrical bacterial cell
- dormantInactive but capable
- germinationSeed's initial growth phase
- mycobacteriumGenus of tuberculosis bacteria
anthrax · botulinum · difficile · cereus · resistance · thermophile · biofilm · contamination
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- asepsisAbsence of harmful microorganisms
- pasteurizationThermal pathogen elimination process
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
sterile · aseptic · surgical-grade · hospital-grade · validated
Colorless pungent preservative gas
- bleachChemical stain and germ killer
- phenolicOf hydroxybenzene compounds
- isopropanolSecondary propyl alcohol
- ethanolDrinkable volatile spirit
Eliminating pathogens from surfaces
- sanitizationCleaning to remove pathogens
- decontaminateRemove harmful substances
- endoscopeInternal examination instrument
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
efficacy · broad-spectrum · residue-free · compatibility · healthcare · laboratory · pharmaceutical
endospore
Bacterial dormancy structure
- bacillusCylindrical bacterial cell
- dormantInactive but capable
- germinationSeed's initial growth phase
mycobacterium · anthrax · botulinum · difficile · cereus · resistance · thermophile · biofilm · contamination
autoclave
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- asepsisAbsence of harmful microorganisms
- pasteurizationThermal pathogen elimination process
filtration · sterile · aseptic · surgical-grade · hospital-grade · validated
formaldehyde
Colorless pungent preservative gas
- bleachChemical stain and germ killer
- phenolicOf hydroxybenzene compounds
- isopropanolSecondary propyl alcohol
disinfection
Eliminating pathogens from surfaces
- sanitizationCleaning to remove pathogens
- decontaminateRemove harmful substances
- endoscopeInternal examination instrument
concentration · efficacy · broad-spectrum · residue-free · compatibility · healthcare · laboratory · pharmaceutical
sporicidesanitizer
Agent that reduces microbes
surface cleaner · hand soap · bacteriostatic · detergent · soap
sporicidegrowth medium
Nutrient substance for cultivation
contaminator · agar · probiotic · inoculant · prebiotic
antiseptic, pesticide, spore, insecticide, germicide, herbicide, fungicide, bactericide, biocide