Antiseptics and antibiotics >>>> Antiseptic of physical action

Antiseptic of physical action.

The term "antiseptic" is usually associated with a substance, but such physical phenomena have been noticed in nature, the use of which in medicine has given the word "antiseptic" a new meaning.

The fact that the sun's rays have an antiseptic effect has been noted for a very long time. Later it was found that it is ultraviolet rays that have a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect. With the advent of ultraviolet light lamps and devices that produce ultraviolet radiation, medicine has a chance to expand the possibilities of using ultraviolet radiation as an antiseptic for the treatment and prevention of many infections, not only inhabiting the human body or on its skin, but also floating in the air of closed rooms. Ultraviolet bactericidal radiation made it possible to disinfect water, medical instruments, and household items.

The destructive effect of high temperatures on many microorganisms led to the invention of such an antiseptic method as autoclaving at high temperatures and high pressure. If the action takes place at high temperatures, not under pressure, then the process is called "sterilization".

The discovery of electrical conductivity also played a positive role in medical practice. Such a physiotherapeutic method as the effect of an ultra-high frequency electric field (UHF) on the inflammation focus has appeared, the antiseptic effect of which is manifested in an increase in the phagocytic activity of leukocytes .

Electrophoresis has also proved to be a useful invention, which facilitates the delivery of, for example, a chemical antiseptic (iodine solutions) to the shallow layers of the skin, creating a depot there and thereby prolonging the effect of the drug.

It turned out to be possible to use ionizing radiation as a bactericidal agent in cases of deeply located foci of infection (for example, located in bone tissue or in the abdominal cavity). Found application of ionizing radiation and for sterilization of dressings, instruments and biological products.

The invention of lasers led to the emergence in medical practice of the possibilities of bloodless surgical intervention, which in turn increased the chances of preventing infection of wounds with pathogenic microflora due to the fact that the laser beam causes denaturation of protein structures.

Further developments to find the possibilities of bloodless incisions led to the creation of a plasma scalpel, which works similarly to a laser scalpel, but the results of tissue regeneration are better.

Similar results are obtained when treating wounds using electrocoagulation - diathermy. It is based on the oldest means of stopping bleeding and antiseptics - cauterization of wound surfaces. The principle is the same - evaporation of cell fluid and protein denaturation.

Ultrasonic treatment of wound surfaces when used together with chemical antiseptics made it possible, using medium-frequency and low-frequency ultrasound, to enhance the effect of chemical antiseptics and antibiotics, and to reduce the number of pathogens by several orders of magnitude.

The use in surgical practice of such a physical phenomenon as the ability of a liquid to move independently along narrow tubes with a wetted wall led to the invention of various types of drainage systems that facilitate the outflow of accumulating purulent exudate from the cavities. Technical developments in the field of drainage systems have made it possible to use drainages not only for outflow, but also for washing with chemical antiseptics and subsequent outflow of waste substances from the cavities.

Preparations with high osmotic pressure (high molecular weight organic compounds - polyethylene oxides) have contributed to wound drainage . Used in conjunction with hygroscopic material (gauze, bandage, cotton wool), they allow you to absorb the contents of wound cavities for a fairly long time (up to a day). Such drugs are produced in the form of water-soluble ointments (Levomekol, Yodpiron, Dioxidin and others).

A similar effect is possessed by substances - sorbents, which selectively absorb chemical substances. For surface adsorption of wounds, Algipor is used, activated carbon inside, etc.

This group of physical antiseptics, along with mechanical, chemical and biological antiseptics, has a fairly strong antimicrobial effect, is involved in the therapy and prevention of infectious diseases.