Study Guide with Detailed Notes, Fomite Transmission, Biological
Safety Levels BSL 1 to BSL 4, Sterilization and Sterilants, Aseptic
Technique and Asepsis, Sepsis and Infection Spread, Sterile Field
Protocols, Commercial Sterilization in Food Safety, Disinfection and
Disinfectants, Antiseptics and Antisepsis, Critical and Semicritical
Items, Degerming and Sanitization Methods, Bactericidal Agents,
Microbial Control Strategies Practise Exam Questions Verified and
Provided with Complete Answers Graded A+ Latest Updated 2026
Fomite
Any inanimate object to which infectious material adheres and can be transmitted.
Describe the biological safety levels (BSL)
BSL-1: Pose minimal risks to workers and environment
BSL-2: Pose moderate risks to workers and environment
BSL-3: Serious or lethal diseases spread through respiration
BSL-4: Fatal without any treatment or vaccines
Sterilization
The process that completely destroys all microbial life, including spores.
Sterilant
, a chemical agent that destroys all microbes
Aseptic technique
method used to make the environment, the worker, and the patient as germ-free as possible
Asepsis
absence of significant contamination
Sepsis
toxic inflammatory condition arising from the spread of microbes, especially bacteria or their
toxins, from a focus of infection
Sterile field
an area that is set up for certain procedures and is free from all organisms
Commercial sterilization
type of sterilization protocol used in food production; uses conditions that are less harsh
(lower temperatures) to preserve food quality but still effectively destroy vegetative cells and
endospores of common foodborne pathogens such as Clostridium botulinum