Question

Sterilization is the process in which all living organisms, including microbial endospores, are destroyed. A disinfectant is an antimicrobial agent used on inanimate objects such as an instrument. An antiseptic is an antimicrobial agent used on the skin externally. Antibiotics are administered either topically, orally or intravenously and can cause side-effects. Based on this information, the correct option is:

• A. Viruses are destroyed by sterilization of inanimate objects, and not by antibiotics.
• B. Antibiotics work equally well on bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
• C. In contrast to antiseptics, an antibiotic is specific to a single species of microorganism.
• D. Disinfectants and antiseptics completely destroy all forms of life.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Viruses are destroyed by sterilization of inanimate objects, and not by antibiotics.

Answer 2

The question asks us to identify the correct statement based on the provided definitions of sterilization, disinfectants, antiseptics, and antibiotics.

Let's analyze each option:

• Option A:

  • Sterilization: Destroys "all living organisms, including microbial endospores." Viruses, while not technically "living organisms" in the same sense as bacteria or fungi, are infectious agents. Effective sterilization processes are designed to inactivate/destroy viruses along with other microbes on inanimate objects.
  • Antibiotics: Primarily target bacterial processes and are generally ineffective against viruses.
  • Therefore, option A is correct.

• Option B: Antibiotics are primarily effective against bacteria, not equally effective against fungi or viruses.

• Option C: Antibiotics can be broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum but are not typically specific to a single species of microorganism.

• Option D: Disinfectants and antiseptics reduce the number of microbes but do not completely destroy all forms of life, unlike sterilization.

Therefore, option A is the only correct statement.