How Do You Spell FRACTIONAL STERILIZATION?

1. Fractional sterilization refers to a process of sterilization in which only a portion or fraction of a particular substance or object is sterilized, rather than the entirety. This method is commonly employed when complete sterilization is unnecessary, impractical, or potentially damaging to the material being sterilized.

   In medical and healthcare settings, fractional sterilization is often employed to sterilize small medical instruments or tools, such as forceps, scalpels, or needles. Instead of subjecting the entire instrument to sterilization, only the part that comes into contact with the patient or body fluids is sterilized. This approach reduces time, energy, and resources required for sterilization, while ensuring that the critical parts of the instrument are completely free from microorganisms that may cause infections.

   Fractional sterilization can also be utilized in food preparation and processing industries. For instance, in canning or bottling processes, certain heat-sensitive components like gaskets or rubber seals may be prone to damage or deterioration if subjected to high temperatures for extended periods. In such cases, only the parts in direct contact with the food are sterilized, ensuring that harmful bacteria or other pathogens are eliminated without compromising the integrity of the entire product or packaging.

   Overall, fractional sterilization is a targeted sterilization approach that allows for precise elimination of microorganisms or pathogens from specific parts or areas, while minimizing the risk of damage or negative impact on the material being sterilized.

2. The heating of a fluid to 56° to 70° C. (132.8° to 158° F.) for a given period, usually one hour, on each of several successive days; at each heating the developed bacteria are destroyed, but the spores are unaffected; also called tyndallization.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for FRACTIONAL STERILIZATION

The word "fractional" derives from the Latin term "fractus", meaning "broken" or "divided". In the context of sterilization, "fractional" refers to the partial or incomplete sterilization of something, particularly in a medical or scientific setting.

The term "sterilization" comes from the Latin word "sterilis", which means "barren" or "sterile". It refers to the process of eliminating all forms of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, to make an object or environment free from living organisms.

Therefore, "fractional sterilization" is a process of sterilization that only partially eliminates microorganisms or reduces their population, instead of completely eradicating them. The term is commonly used in medical and microbiological fields to describe techniques that aim to reduce microbial load rather than achieving absolute sterility.