Deck 11: Disinfectants and Antiseptics

Question 1

A farmer is struggling with infectious interdigital dermatitis in his dairy herd. After consulting with his veterinarian, he has decided to invest in a foot bath system. Since he knows a bit about the antimicrobial capabilities of isopropyl alcohol, he would like to use this (in diluted form) as his foot bath chemical. Why would you advise against this?

A)Alcohols are volatile and flammable
B)Isopropyl alcohol is not effective against all microbes
C)Isopropyl alcohol would be inactivated by the organic materials in the foot bath
D)All of the above are reasons not to use this compound

Answer 1

All of the above are reasons not to use this compound

Question 2

When using chemicals to kill microbes on surfaces, _________________ are for use on inanimate objects and _______________ are considered safe to use on living tissues.

A)antiseptics, disinfectants
B)disinfectants, antiseptics
C)disinfectants, sterilizers
D)antibiotics, disinfectants

Answer 2

disinfectants, antiseptics

Question 3

Why do hand sanitizers include alcohol?

A)Alcohol is a surfactant.
B)Alcohol has a quick kill time.
C)Alcohol doesn't affect the skins lipids.
D)Alcohol can be applied to open wounds.

Answer 3

Alcohol has a quick kill time.

Question 4

What is alcohol's main mechanism of action against pathogens?

A)Destroy its DNA
B)Slows bacterial cell wall growth
C)Dissolves lipids
D)Gets them drunk

Question 5

What is not important to consider when choosing disinfectants?

A)Cost
B)Color
C)Stability
D)Spectrum of action

Question 6

Why should a chlorine-disinfected cat cage be thoroughly rinsed before returning the cat?

A)To remove chlorine-resistant bacteria
B)To activate the disinfecting properties of chlorine
C)To decrease the risk of skin irritation
D)To allow the cage to dry

Question 7

As a technician is cleaning the runs to the clinic's dog room, she runs out of 10% bleach. In an effort to complete her cleaning, she grabs a bottle of color-safe bleach from the laundry room and decides to dilute it to 10% with tap water to make a working solution of bleach. What is a concern with this procedure?

A)Water should not be used as a diluent, as it inactivates the chloride compound
B)Color safe bleach is just a diluted form of regular bleach, so her dilution makes it too weak
C)Color safe bleach is different than regular bleach, and has less disinfection capabilities
D)She shouldn't be using bleach at all, as dogs are very sensitive to chlorine

Question 8

What can make disinfectants less effective?

A)Hard water
B)Improper dilution
C)Inappropriate selection based on organism
D)All of these

Question 9

Which common disinfectant should be chosen to clean a piece of medical-grade plastic tubing that has a slimy film on its inside surface?

A)Isopropyl alcohol
B)10% bleach
C)Tween buffer
D)Glutaraldehyde

Question 10

Iodine is effective in disinfecting/sanitizing all of the following except

A)spattered bloody feces from a dog with parvovirus.
B)nasal secretion of a dog with kennel cough.
C)a ringworm lesion on a cat.
D)a sample containing Clostridium tetani spores.

Question 11

Why are pseudomonas species highly resistant to disinfection?

A)They grow in large numbers
B)They do not create a biofilm
C)They cannot attach to living tissue
D)They exude a glycocalyx

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true about alcohol as a disinfectant?

A)Alcohol is effective in destroying Bacillus spores
B)Alcohol is effective against nonenveloped viruses but worthless against enveloped viruses
C)Alcohol is not effective as a broad-spectrum antibacterial
D)Alcohol's mode of action involves dissolving pathogen membranes and inactivating proteins

Question 13

What occurs when populations of microorganisms are exposed to low concentrations of antimicrobial chemicals?

A)Their growth is stopped
B)Selective pressure is applied to create death
C)Selective pressure is applied that creates resistance
D)Their DNA is denatured

Question 14

Common sites for nosocomial infections include all except

A)orthopedic implants.
B)urinary tracts.
C)endotracheal tubes.
D)pastures.

Question 15

All of the following should be considered when choosing an ideal disinfectant except

A)amount of tissue irritation or surface damage the chemical causes.
B)ability of the chemical to become inactivated.
C)how many microbes the chemical works against.
D)how pleasant the chemical smells.
E)the cost of the chemical.

Question 16

Non enveloped viruses common in veterinary hospitals include all but

A)canine parvovirus.
B)feline panleukopenia.
C)feline calicivirus.
D)rabies virus.

Question 17

Chlorhexidine is a commonly used antiseptic used in veterinary medicine. All except one of the following are true regarding chlorhexidine. Which is incorrect?

A)Chlorhexidine functions by damaging cell membrane of the pathogen and lysing the cell
B)Chlorhexidine is effective against both enveloped and naked viruses
C)Chlorhexidine maintains residual activity on skin surfaces
D)Compared to alcohol, chlorhexidine resists inactivation by organic matter
E)Chlorhexidine can be damaging as an otic preparation if the tympanic membrane is ruptured

Question 18

What types of organisms are quaternary ammonium compounds effective against?

A)Gram-positive bacteria
B)Gram-negative bacteria
C)Non-enveloped ("naked") viruses
D)Enveloped viruses
E)Both A and D

Question 19

Applying alcohol to open wounds is not recommended because

A)alcohol is flammable.
B)prolonged contact with alcohol can corrode metal surfaces.
C)it effectively kills all pathogens instantly and prevents all infections.
D)it causes pain and may also facilitate the survival of pathogens.

Question 20

A chemical is used to clean the surface of an examination table. The previous patient was a dog that has experienced chronic bouts of interdigital dermatitis. After examination, the veterinarian diagnosed Staphylococcal pyoderma with secondary infection by the fungus Malassezia. What type of disinfectant should you use to clean this table after the examination?

A)A virucide and a bacteriostat
B)A bacteriocide and a fungicide
C)A parasitocide and a virucide
D)A fungicide and a parasitocide

Question 21

A surfactant is a chemical that

A)breaks the surface tension of water.
B)allows easier interaction between organic material and chemicals.
C)when combined with an iodophor are often referred to as surgical scrubs.
D)All of the above are true

Question 22

Phenols are most effective against

A)gram-positive bacteria.
B)gram-negative bacteria.
C)spores.
D)fungi.

Question 23

Which is less inactivated by organic material?

A)Detergents
B)Quaternary ammonium
C)Chlorine
D)Phenols

Question 24

Instead of free-iodine compounds, iodophors ______________________________.

A)are less irritating but have a shorter duration of action
B)cannot be used on open wounds
C)are no longer used in Vet medicine
D)are less irritating and have a longer duration of action

Question 25

What is the definition of "Disinfection?"

A)Removal of all microbial organisms from a surface
B)Removing visible debris off a surface
C)General destruction of pathogens
D)Treatment of an animal ill with an infectious disease