1.1 Introduction
According to Dermnetnz (2021), an antiseptic is a chemical agent that slows or stops the growth of micro-organisms on external surfaces of the body and helps to prevent infections. Antiseptics should be distinguished from antibiotics that destroy micro-organisms inside the body, and from disinfectants, which destroy micro-organisms found on inanimate (non-living) objects. However, antiseptics are often referred to as skin disinfectants (Dermnetnz, 2021).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
In the 19th century, even when an operation or treatment had been successful, the patient often died from a host of infection-related conditions like sepsis and gangrene. No one knew the cause of infections or how they were spread, although there were many theories. Infection was the final challenge in making surgery safe. Surgery was still a young profession when Lister decided to study medicine in 1844. Anaesthetics had only just been introduced, making surgery pain-free for the patient, and allowing the surgeon to try more complicated and time-consuming procedures. Unfortunately, this led to a dramatic increase in the number of deaths from surgical infections (Sciencemuseum, 2021).
Antiseptics are chemicals that people apply to the skin. They can reduce the number of microorganisms living on the skin, in wounds, and in mucous membranes. Different types of antiseptic vary in cost, effectiveness, uses, and potential side effects. Healthcare workers often use antiseptics before carrying out medical procedures, such as drawing blood and performing surgery (Medicalnewstoday, 2021). More than 150 years ago Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis have proven the efficacy of antiseptics against puerperal infections. From that time many chemical compounds with disinfectant properties was synthetized. Those substances are used in skin, objects and surfaces de-contamination and disinfection. For all those antiseptics their bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties was confirmed. However, clinical observations concerning their properties and efficacy are not clear (Maki et al., 1991 and Mimoz et al., 1996).
According to Sciencemuseum (2021), antisepsis is the method of using chemicals, called antiseptics, to destroy the germs that cause infections. It was developed by the British surgeon Joseph Lister. Joseph Lister found a way to prevent infection in wounds during and after surgery, He was the first to apply the science of Germ Theory to surgery, Lister's Antisepsis System is the basis of modern infection control, and His principles made surgery safe and continue to save countless lives (Sciencemuseum, 2021).
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation reveals the problems of the antiseptics research work;
- A lot of people suffer from pathogen contraction as a result of non antiseptics material usage,
- Insufficient information relating to the growth inhibition zones of pathogens for analyzed antiseptics Pathogen
- Inadequate analysis of the relevance of antiseptic tools usage in good health sustenance.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the antiseptics relevance in pathogen elimination. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were set out as follows;
- To analyze the efficacy of several antiseptics against some pathogens.
- To examine the growth inhibition zones of pathogens for analyzed antiseptics Pathogen
- To examine the antiseptics usage in eliminating pathogen in human skins.
1.5 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the analysis of antiseptics against pathogens which comprises the examination of the growth inhibition zones of pathogens for analyzed antiseptics Pathogen.
1.6 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials.
1.7 Significance of Study
The relevance of this research work is outline below;
- The study will help to stop the growth of microorganisms on the skin, by providing information about the daily usage in medical settings to reduce the risk of infection and stop the spread of germs.
Besides, the study will serve as reference material for subsequent researcher in the field or related topics.
1.8 Definition of terms
Antiseptic: An antiseptic is an antimicrobial substance or compound that is applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction (Wikipedia, 2021).
Pathogen: Pathogen in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism that can produce disease (Wikipedia, 2021).
Antibiotic: a medicine (such as penicillin or its derivatives) that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms.
Resistance: Resistance is a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit.
Antioxidants: Antioxidants are molecules that fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals are compounds that can cause harm if their levels become too high in your body.
Activity: An activity is a phase, task, operation or other component within an activity group.
