S: DOCK – https://bit.ly/3dZQhFs (last access: 27 October 2020); SDir – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/antisepsis (last access: 30 October 2020).

N: 1. Composed of anti- “against” and sepsis “putrefaction” which orginates from Latin antisepsis, which originates from Greek roots. The first known use of antisepsis was in the year 1875.
2. The process of preventing the growth of infectious germs, like bacteria, viruses and fungi.
3. Antisepsis is carried out using biocides or germicides. Antimicrobial chemicals, that have mechanisms of action and resistances very similar to antibiotics, are generating concern due to the possibility of crossing genetic information that aggravates the problem of bacterial resistance. Most biocides can act as antiseptics, and applied to skin tissue, or disinfectants on inanimate materials.
4. Hand or skin antisepsis requires the use of an antiseptic hand wash, antiseptic hand rub, or another product containing an antisepticagent such as a pre-operative skin scrub or surgical scrub. There is no firm evidence that one type of hand antisepsis is better than another in reducing SSIs.
5. Asepsis and antisepsis are not to be confused with one another. Both are different approaches applied in places where the presence of pathogenic microorganisms should be avoided, such as clinical laboratories, hospitals, and the food industry, as they can cause infections and endanger the health of human beings. Asepsis is the freedom from disease-causing microorganisms and is used to decrease the possibility of transferring microorganisms from one place to another. Aseptic techniques are used to aim minimising infection and aseptic itself can be the use of sterile instruments and the use of gloved no touch technique. As for antisepsis more concretely is the removal of transient microorganisms from the skin and a reduction in the resident flora.
6. During the COVID-19 pandemic there is a larger calling and demand for antisepsis. For this reason during the pandemic antisepsis comes into play as medical staff who undergo the COVID-19 testings or any other kind of medical procedures such as blood tests, vaccines, etc., have to constantly practice antisepsis for their own health and the health of all patients. This is seen in all medical centres where there are signs and instructions on how to wash your hands thoroughly (also commonly seen during flu season). Although it is simply described as washing or disinfecting hands, it is a key example of mainstream antisepsis.

SYN: antisepsy

S: TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=antisepsis&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs (last access: 30 October 2020)

CR: disinfection