4: Using Antibiotics and Chemical Agents to Control Bacteria
- Page ID
- 3153
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- 4.1: An Overview to Control of Microorganisms
- Control of microorganisms is essential to prevent the transmission of diseases and infection, stop decomposition and spoilage, and prevent unwanted microbial contamination. Microorganisms are controlled by physical agents and chemical agents. Physical agents include methods as controlling temperature, desiccation, osmotic pressure, radiation, and filtration. Control by chemical agents refers to the use of disinfectants, antiseptics, antibiotics, and chemotherapeutic antimicrobial chemicals.
- 4.2: Ways in which Chemical Control Agents Affect Bacteria
- The basis of chemotherapeutic control of bacteria is selective toxicity. Selective toxicity means that the chemical being used should inhibit or kill the intended pathogen without seriously harming the host. A broad spectrum agent is one generally effective against a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; a narrow spectrum agent generally works against just Gram-positives, Gram-negatives, or only a few bacteria. Such agents may be cidal or static in their action.
- 4.3: Ways in which Bacteria May Resist Chemical Control Agents
- Most bacteria become resistant to antibiotics by way of one or more mechanisms that are coded for by genes in the bacterial chromosome and/or in bacterial plasmids. Bacterial genes may code for production of an enzyme that inactivates the antibiotic. Bacterial genes may code for an altered target site receptor (ribosomal subunit, enzyme, etc.) for the antibiotic to reduce or block its binding. Bacterial genes may code for altered membrane components.
- 4.E: Using Antibiotics and Chemical Agents to Control Bacteria (Exercises)
- These are homework exercises to accompany Kaiser's "Microbiology" TextMap. Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell (unicellular), cell clusters or no cell at all (acellular). This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes. Viruses and prions, though not strictly classed as living organisms, are also studied.