Final answer:
The reduction of microbes on the skin by scrubbing with soap, known as degerming, differs from using antiseptics on living tissues and disinfectants on inanimate objects. Filtration removes microbes physically, while sterilization is most effective in eliminating all microbes. Overuse of antimicrobial soap can lead to increased infection risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which the number of microbes on the human skin is reduced by scrubbing is commonly referred to as degerming. Degerming is achieved through handwashing, where microbial numbers are significantly lowered by gently scrubbing the skin with a mild chemical like soap. This practice helps avoid the transmission of pathogenic microbes. On the other hand, antiseptics are suitable for use on living tissues for microbial control to prevent infection. Wiping the skin with an alcohol swab at an injection site is another form of this microbial control method.
Methods such as filtration work by physically removing microbes from samples, without necessarily killing them or inhibiting their growth. Sanitization refers to cleansing objects to reduce microbes to safe levels, often achieved through physical agents like heat in commercial dishwashers. Sterilization involves killing or removing all microorganisms, while disinfection only reduces the number of microorganisms.
Antimicrobial soap overuse can paradoxically increase the risk of infection by potentially leading to antimicrobial resistance or disrupting the natural microbiome of the skin that normally acts as a barrier to infection.
The difference between a disinfectant and an antiseptic is that the former is used on inanimate objects while the latter on living tissues. Sterilization is the most effective at removing microbes compared to sanitization and degerming, as it aims to eradicated all microbes. Prudent use of these antimicrobial products is crucial, especially in healthcare settings. The effectiveness of disinfectants and antiseptics can be evaluated against standard agents like phenol, using methods such as broth dilution or disk diffusion assays.