Question

A product that can be applied to the skin to reduce pathogens is called a(n):

A. Antiseptic
B. Disinfectant
C. Antibiotic
D. Sterilant

Answer 1

The correct answer to the question is Antiseptic. Antiseptics are safe for use on living tissues to reduce pathogens, compared to disinfectants that are used on inanimate objects. Phenol is a traditional standard for comparing the effectiveness of disinfectants.

Step-by-step explanation:

A product that can be applied to the skin to reduce pathogens is called an antiseptic. Unlike disinfectants, which are suitable for inanimate surfaces, antiseptics are antimicrobial substances safe for use on living tissues.

Antibiotics and sterilants, on the other hand, serve different purposes; antibiotics are used to treat infections internally, and sterilants are used to achieve sterility by killing or removing all forms of microbial life including spores.

Therefore, the correct answer is:
A. Antiseptic

Antiseptics, such as hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol, must be selectively effective against microorganisms and able to penetrate tissue deeply without causing damage. Phenol is historically used as a standard for comparing the effectiveness of disinfectants, a practice dating back to the surgeon Joseph Lister's antiseptic surgery techniques.

Answer 2

An antiseptic is a substance applied to the skin to reduce pathogens and is suitable for use on living tissues, unlike disinfectants and sterilants which are used on inanimate objects or require complete microbial eradication.

Step-by-step explanation:

A product that can be applied to the skin to reduce pathogens is called an antiseptic. Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction. Unlike disinfectants, which are used to destroy microorganisms on inanimate objects, antiseptics must be non-toxic enough to be used on or in the human body. Examples of antiseptics include hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol. The effectiveness of antiseptics can often be compared to the standard phenol, which has a long history of use in surgery for its antibacterial effects.

Meanwhile, disinfectants are chemicals used on non-living surfaces to kill microbes. A sterilant is a type of disinfectant that destroys all forms of microbial life, including spores, and is used extensively in medical settings to sterilize surgical instruments and other items.

For the question at hand, specifically asking for a product applied to the skin to reduce the presence of pathogens, the mention of the correct option in the final answer is Antiseptic (Option A).