Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What term describes a substance that kills bacteria?

1. Bacteriostatic

2. Bacteriocidal

3. Virucidal

4. Spore-forming

The correct answer is: Bacteriocidal

The term that describes a substance that kills bacteria is bacteriocidal. Bacteriocidal agents are specifically designed to eliminate bacteria by disrupting vital cellular processes or structures, leading to the death of the bacterial cells. This is particularly important in a laboratory or clinical setting where it is necessary to control or prevent bacterial infections. In contrast, bacteriostatic refers to substances that inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria without necessarily killing them. These agents control bacterial populations by preventing them from multiplying, which is useful in certain therapeutic situations but not the same as outright killing the bacteria. Virucidal describes substances that specifically target and destroy viruses, not bacteria. The mechanisms of action and the types of organisms that these agents affect are fundamentally different from those that are bacteriocidal or bacteriostatic. Spore-forming refers to a reproductive strategy employed by certain bacteria and does not relate to the action of killing bacteria. It describes bacteria that can form spores as a dormant and resistant form, rather than a classification of agents that destroy bacteria. Understanding these differences is crucial for selecting the appropriate antimicrobial agents for various scenarios in laboratory and clinical environments.