Types of Sterilisation & Sanitation

Disease The term disease broadly refers to any abnormal condition that impairs normal function. Commonly, this term is used to refer specifically to infectious diseases, which are clinically evident diseases that result from the presence of pathogenic microbial agents, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites, and aberrant proteins known as prions. An infection that does not produce clinically evident impairment of normal functioning is not considered a disease. Non-infectious diseases are all other diseases, including most forms of cancer, heart disease and genetic disease

Sanitation Is the hygienic means of preventing human contact from the hazards of wastes to promote health. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic waste water, industrial wastes, and agricultural wastes. Hygienic means of prevention can be by using engineering solutions or even by personal hygiene practices (e.g. simple hanswashing with soap).

Soap A cleansing agent. It cleanses by lowering the surface tension of water, by emulsifying grease, and by absorbing dirt into the foam. Ancient peoples are believed to have employed wood ashes and water for washing and to have relieved the resulting irritation with grease or oil.

Antiseptics Antiseptics are disinfectants used specifically on the skin and for treating wounds. Antiseptic is an agent which inhibits the growth and multiplication of bacteria. Antiseptics should generally be distinguished from drugs such as antibiotics that destroy microorganisms internally, and from disinfectants, which destroy microorganisms found on nonliving objects. Germicides include only those antiseptics that kill microorganisms.

Antiseptics Some common antiseptics are alcohol, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, and boric acid. There is great variation in the ability of antiseptics to destroy microorganisms and in their effect on living tissue.

Disinfectants To disinfect something is to render it free from pathogenic organisms or to make them inert. That is, to kill the germs and bacteria or to render them harmless. In the salon this is most commonly done by immersion in a liquid solution. Some of these solutions include: Alcohol, Quats, or a Phenol compound. To be effective these solutions must be prepared according to instructions and the items to be disinfected should remain in the solution at least 10 minutes.

Disinfectants Most disinfection solutions are weakened or rendered inactive by contamination by organic material such as skin or nail dust, they should be replaced daily or according to manufacturers directions. Very few disinfectants and sanitizers can sterilise (the complete elimination of all microorganisms), and those that can depend entirely on their mode of application. Bacterial endospores are most resistant to disinfectants, however some viruses and bacteria also possess some tolerance.

Disinfectants work against bacteria and fungi, but they just remove contamination; they do not necessarily kill spores. Disinfectants only reduce the number of organisms.

Pathogenic Bacteria Bacteria that cause disease are called pathogenic bacteria. Bacteria can cause diseases in humans, in other animals, and also in plants. Some bacteria can only make one particular host ill; others cause trouble in a number of hosts, depending on the host specificity of the bacteria. The diseases caused by bacteria are almost as diverse as the bugs themselves and include food poisoning

Non Pathogenic Bacteria Incapable of causing disease. Nonpathogenic bacteria are harmless. By contrast, pathogenic bacteria can cause disease.

Bacteria

Viruses

Parasite

Fungi

Sterilisation Sterilisation is to completely eliminate microbial viability. This process kills all non-pathogenic and pathogenic spores, fungi, and viruses. In the spa, sterilisation is not really necessary, this process is only required on instruments entering the body cavity.

Autoclave

Ultra Violet Radiation

Glass Bead Steriliser

Chemical Methods of Sterilisation Concentrated liquid chemical agents are available which have to be diluted for use. Some chemical agents act as a sterilant, depending on the strength of the solution and the time for which items are kept in contact with them. Some liquid chemical sterilisers are very harmful to the skin and great care is needed when handling them.

Immunity The ability of an organism to resist disease by identifying and destroying foreign substances or organisms. Although all animals have some immune capabilities, little is known about non mammalian immunity. Mammals are protected by a variety of preventive mechanisms, some of them nonspecific (e.g., barriers, such as the skin), others highly specific (e.g., the response of antibodies).