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An antiseptic (Greek: ἀντί, romanized: anti, lit. 'against' [ 1 ] and σηπτικός , sēptikos , 'putrefactive' [ 2 ] ) is an antimicrobial substance or compound that is applied to living tissue to reduce the possibility of sepsis , infection , or putrefaction .
Antimicrobial use has been common practice for at least 2000 years. Ancient Egyptians and ancient Greeks used specific molds and plant extracts to treat infection. [5]In the 19th century, microbiologists such as Louis Pasteur and Jules Francois Joubert observed antagonism between some bacteria and discussed the merits of controlling these interactions in medicine. [6]
A 3% solution is also used as an antiseptic. Hydrogen peroxide vapor is used as a medical sterilant and as room disinfectant. Hydrogen peroxide has the advantage that it decomposes to form oxygen and water thus leaving no long term residues, but hydrogen peroxide as with most other strong oxidants is hazardous, and solutions are a primary irritant.
[20] [24] This definition excluded substances that kill bacteria but that are not produced by microorganisms (such as gastric juices and hydrogen peroxide). It also excluded synthetic antibacterial compounds such as the sulfonamides. In current usage, the term "antibiotic" is applied to any medication that kills bacteria or inhibits their ...
Chlorhexidine is a very effective antiseptic and its use is growing in the world for treating the umbilical cord. A 2015 Cochrane review has yielded high-quality evidence that within the community setting, chlorhexidine skin or cord care can reduce the incidence of omphalitis (inflammation of the umbilical cord) by 50% and neonatal mortality by ...
alcohols with or without antiseptic additives, used mainly for skin antisepsis, weak organic acids such as sorbic acid, benzoic acid, lactic acid and salicylic acid; some phenolic compounds, such as hexachlorophene, triclosan and Dibromol, and; cationic surfactants, such as 0.05–0.5% benzalkonium, 0.5–4% chlorhexidine, 0.1–2% octenidine ...
Thymol (also known as 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol, IPMP), C 10 H 14 O, is a natural monoterpenoid phenol derivative of p-Cymene, isomeric with carvacrol.It occurs naturally in the oil of thyme, and it is extracted from Thymus vulgaris (common thyme), ajwain, [4] and various other plants as a white crystalline substance of a pleasant aromatic odor and strong antiseptic properties.
The modern day notion of asepsis is derived from the older antiseptic techniques, a shift initiated by different individuals in the 19th century who introduced practices such as the sterilizing of surgical tools and the wearing of surgical gloves during operations. [2] The goal of asepsis is to eliminate infection, not to achieve sterility. [1]