What it means
A product used on equipment and surfaces, not on skin, to destroy most harmful microorganisms. Most do not kill all bacterial spores, which takes sterilizationstair-uh-luh-ZAY-shunA process that destroys all microorganisms, including spores, on an item; also a permanent birth control procedure.Full entry or a product labeled as sporicidal, such as bleach for C. difficilesee dif-uh-SEELClostridioides difficile, a spore-forming bacterium that can infect the colon (the large intestine).Full entry . An antiseptican-tih-SEP-tikA substance put on the skin or other living tissue to kill germs or slow their growth.anti- againstseps rotting, infection-ic relating toFull entry is used on skin.
For the nurse
Follow the label's wet contact time: the surface must stay wet for that long to work. Wear gloves, and use a sporicidal product for rooms of clients with C. difficile.
At a glance
| Also written | disinfectants |
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Easy to confuse with
antiseptic
A substance put on the skin or other living tissue to kill germs or slow their growth.
Related terms
C. difficile
Clostridioides difficile, a spore-forming bacterium that can infect the colon (the large intestine).
sterilization
A process that destroys all microorganisms, including spores, on an item; also a permanent birth control procedure.
antiseptic
A substance put on the skin or other living tissue to kill germs or slow their growth.