High temperature affects the shape of particular molecules. How does this affect the life of a microbe?

You have a patient who is suffering from a Clostridioides difficile infection. Which of the following would most likely be recommended to decontaminate small heat-stable

equipment used for the patient? (NCLEX/HESI/TEAS)

a. Autoclave all equipment at 121°C for 15 minutes.

b. Boil equipment for 3 minutes.

c. Place the equipment in a hot-air oven at 121°C for 15 minutes.

d. Treat all equipment with a detergent solution.

e. None of the above.

The _____________ is the time needed to kill 90 percent of a given microbial population at a set temperature. The _____________ is the lowest temperature needed to kill all microbes in a sample within 10 minutes.

Organisms that preferentially may thrive in icy waters are described as _______.

a. barophiles

b. thermophiles

c. mesophiles

d. psychrophiles

The lowest temperature at which a microbe continues to metabolize is called its ___________ .

Why are Gram-negative bacteria more susceptible to heat than Gram-positive bacteria?

Calculate the decimal reduction time (D) for the two temperatures in the following graph.

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Which bacterial culture will have the highest growth rate?

What is the optimum growth temperature of mesophiles?