In the body, when the injury occurs the damaged cells release chemicals to get white cells to kill bacteria, platelets to start clotting and for new cells to start to be made (scar, skin, muscle etc.). Savlon contains man made versions of these chemicals which promote clotting and healing.
How Do Antiseptics Work?
Chemicals that kill microorganisms outside the body are known as antiseptics. Antiseptics can be used to clean an open wound as well as surfaces on objects such as toilets.
Antiseptics are medicines that slow or stop the growth of germs and help prevent infections in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
Antiseptics are applied to the skin to keep bacteria from getting into wounds and causing infection. Although antiseptics do not usually kill bacteria, they do weaken them and slow their growth.
The wound should be cleaned first, and in most cases it should be covered with a bandage or other type of dressing to keep it clean and moist while it heals. However, some antiseptics, such as phenol, can damage the skin if the wound is covered after they are applied.
Antiseptics are placed on the skin, usually in an area where the skin has been damaged, such as a cut or a graze. They are also used to clean the skin before intentional cuts are made in surgical operations. They are also used to treat the skin before cuts are made during surgical operations. The antiseptics that kill bacteria outright are known as bacterial, the others, described as bacteriostatic, stop bacteria from growing, but do not kill them.
Comparing Antiseptics, Antibiotics and Disinfectants
The main differences between antiseptics and disinfectants are that disinfectants are used mainly to sanitize objects, and antiseptics are used on human skin. They both act as antimicrobials that kill the microbes that cause infection, and contain many of the same ingredients. Disinfectant usually comes in liquid form or in a spray, whereas antiseptic is usually in the form of an ointment, but can also be a spray.
Antiseptics and disinfectants both remove disease-causing organisms. A difference, however, is the way each substance is used. Antiseptics are applied to skin or tissue and works to prevent infection, whereas disinfectants are applied to surfaces or other inanimate objects. Disinfectants are stronger, so therefore also more toxic because they are applied to surfaces, not living things.
Antiseptics and antibiotics have common properties so are sometimes viewed as the same, but there are a few differences between them. Antiseptics weaken and slow down the growth of bacteria, which helps prevent the bacteria causing any further infection. However, antibiotics kill the bacteria as well as some fungi and parasites. Unlike antiseptics, bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics after lots of use. Some antiseptics may delay the process of healing and make a wound worse.
Another big difference between the two is how they work against bacteria or other microorganisms. Antiseptics only slow the growth of bacteria instead of actually killing it off. Unlike antibiotics, antiseptics are also effective on other microorganisms, making it useful to fight other infections. Antibiotics do kill the bacteria, but are seen to be ineffective toward many other types of infection.
Antiseptics are used on living tissues and cells; they destroy any types of infections which may be living on the tissue. But disinfectants are meant to destroy microorganisms which can infect non-living things. They are commonly used on household items to protect from germs and colds from spreading or infecting more people.
Usually, antiseptics are used in the form of sanitizers when hand washing isn’t available, also where bacteria exists and needs to be removed (hospitals are a common place where these are found). Antiseptics and disinfectants are frequently made for destroying bacteria and killing germs and possible disease.
Typically, antiseptics are used to clean a surface which may come into contacts with the mouth or eyes; it is considered safer than a disinfectant. Antiseptics can be used in items such as mouthwash, eyewashes, cold sores, and yeast infection treatment creams. Disinfectants are commonly found in household cleaning products for kitchens, bathrooms, and other commonly items where germs are found. Both items can be found in common household items and in sterilized medical facilities. They are both safe to use in these ways and are main ingredients in making these items work as they do.
Antiseptics are used on living tissues and disinfectants are used on non-living items, but both are used to protect the spreading of germs and infection to humans and animals. Disinfectants are used in homes to disinfect items which could spread germs. Antiseptics are used to clean areas of the body which are prone to infection or deep clean.
Antiseptics and antibiotics are chemicals that destroy bacteria or stop them growing. Antiseptics are used outside the body to help to clean wounds and surfaces. They’re used to prevent infection rather than treat it. Many household products contain antiseptics e.g. bathroom cleaners. Antiseptics are also used in hospitals and surgeries to try to prevent infections like MRSA. Antibiotics are drugs used inside the body, usually taken as a pill or injected. They are used to treat patients who are already infected. They only kill bacteria though- viruses aren’t affected by them.
GCSE Biology OCR Gateway: The Revision Guide Higher Level
The Disc-Diffusion /Disk-Diffusion Test
This is one of the more commonly used methods of antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In this test, small filter paper disks (6 mm) saturated with a certain amount of antibiotic or antiseptics are placed onto an agar plate to which bacteria have been swabbed. The plates are incubated overnight, and the zone of inhibition of bacterial growth is used as a measure of susceptibility. Large zones of inhibition show that the organism is susceptible, while small or no zone of inhibition show resistance.
This is an example of a plate from a disc diffusion study. There are different sizes of the inhibitory zones around the different disks; each disk is impregnated with a different antiseptic and agent. Interpretation of the test requires comparison of the measured zone diameter with the cutoff values for each organism pair.
The effectiveness of antiseptics and disinfectants can be tested by using the filter paper disc test method, or disc-diffusion test.
Filter paper discs that have been soaked with various antiseptics and disinfectants are placed on the agar that has been inoculated with bacteria. After incubation, the zone of inhibition (clear area around the disc) is measured for each antiseptic and disinfectant. The test is based on the diffusion of the agent from the area of higher concentration (disc) to the area of lower concentration (media).
- If the organism is sensitive to the antiseptic or disinfectant, it will fail to grow up to the edge of the disc, creating a clear zone called the zone of inhibition around the disc.
- Microorganisms unaffected by the antiseptic or disinfectant will grow up to the disc.
- The larger the zone of inhibition does not mean the agent is more effective, only that it inhibits/prevents the microorganism.
The diffusion rate depends on the concentration, and molecular weight of the agent being used.
Bibliography
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http://www.dermnetnz.org/treatments/antiseptics.html -Reliable because it is an ‘.org’ website which is a government run site.
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http://www.pharmaceutical-drug-manufacturers.com/articles/common-antiseptics.html -This is a reliable website because it was written specially about pharmaceutical drugs.
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–This is reliable due to the fact that it was made by the NHS which is a well trusted and popular health organization.
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-This is reliable because it is created by a professional, trusted pharmacy.
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http://potassiumm11.imascientist.org.uk/2011/03/how-do-creams-like-savlon-heal-wounds-dont-wounds-only-heal-from-the-inside -It was written by a scientist so shows it is reliable. The scientist was Probash Chowdhury who tests the safety of potential new medicines before doctors can use them.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/edexcel/problems_in_environment/infectiousdiseaserev5.shtml -This website is a trusted website, made especially for educational purposes so it has to be true.
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http://www.faqs.org/health/topics/76/Antiseptics.html -Has a specific section about antiseptics so is reliable in this way.
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http://www.reference.com/motif/science/differences-between-antiseptics-and-disinfectants - Not that reliable because anyone can write an answer but the information matches what other websites also said.
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http://www.livestrong.com/article/291472-antiseptic-vs-disinfectant/ -Livestrong is an organization mainly about health.
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http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-antiseptics-and-antibiotics.htm -This website has been written by many different scientists and people qualified in science.
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http://www.differencebetween.net/science/health/disease-health/difference-between-antiseptic-and-disinfectant/ -This website is about the differences between similar things. It compares specific things accurately, so is shown to be reliable.
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GCSE Biology OCR Gateway: The Revision Guide Higher Level –This source is a GCSE text book used for learning at a high level. For this reason, the book is definitely reliable.
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http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/bugdrug/antibiotic_manual/bk.html -This was written by the University of Pennsylvania Medical Centre, showing it is reliable due to the trust of medical centres.
