Describe Various Methods For The Control Of Bacteria?

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Describe Various Methods For The Control Of Bacteria?

2 Answers

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Answer 1

Control of microorganisms is essential in home, industry as well as in medical field. By controlling microorganisms we can prevent and treat diseases. Controlling microorganisms can inhibit spoilage of foods and other industrial products.
Following methods can control microorganism:

Physical methods for control of Microbial Growth
Sterilization
In this method we use steam, dry heat, gas, filtration and radiation to control bacteria. The process in which we use physical agents to control bacteria is known as sterilization process. Sterilization is destruction of life forms.

High Temperature
High temperature is usually used in microbial laboratories for control of microbes. It has an effect on cellular enzyme systems. Therefore it will affect the rate of chemical reactions thus causing death of microorganisms. Both dry heat and damp heat are effective. Damp heat causes coagulation of proteins and kills the microbes.

Radiation
Certain electromagnetic radiations below 300 nm are effective in killing of microorganisms. Generally, the gamma rays are used for sterilization process.
Membrane Filters
Heat sensitive compounds like antibiotics, serum; hormones can be sterilized by means of membrane filters.

Answer 2

There are many methods use to stop the microbial growth but here we are discussing some of them:
Antiseptics:
Many chemical substances are used on living tissues to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, these are called antiseptics.
Disinfectants:
The important chemical agents used for disinfections are oxidizing and reducing agents. For example halogens and phenols, hydrogen, peroxide, potassium permagnate, alcohol and formaldehyde etc. These chemicals inhibit the growth of vegetative cells. They are used on nonliving materials.

Chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics:
Chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics work with natural defense and stop the growth of bacteria and other microbes. These are sulfonamides, tetracycline, penicillin, etc. They destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms in living tissues.

Microbicidal and Microbistatic effect:
Microbicidal effect is one that kills the microbes immediately. Microbistatic effect is one that inhibits the reproductive capacity of the cells and maintains the microbial population at constant size.Mode of action of different chemical and physical agents of control is variable. Damage can result in malfunctioning of cell wall, cell membrane cytoplasm enzymes, or nucleic acid.