Tyndallization refers to which sterilization method?

Tyndallization refers to which sterilization method?

• A. Continuous steam sterilization
• B. Intermittent, or fractional, sterilization
• C. Chemical sterilization
• D. Ultraviolet sterilization

Answer: (B)

Tyndallization is a form of intermittent, or fractional, sterilization. The idea is to heat materials in cycles, with incubation periods between heats. This exploits the fact that some bacteria survive a single heat treatment by forming spores. The first heat cycle reduces vegetative cells, and during the incubation period those spores germinate into more heat-susceptible forms. A second round of heating then kills these new vegetative cells, and repeating the cycles over several days increases overall sterility. Because it relies on repeated heating with rests, it’s not continuous steam sterilization (which uses one sustained high-heat dose), nor chemical sterilization, nor ultraviolet sterilization.

Tyndallization is a form of intermittent, or fractional, sterilization. The idea is to heat materials in cycles, with incubation periods between heats. This exploits the fact that some bacteria survive a single heat treatment by forming spores. The first heat cycle reduces vegetative cells, and during the incubation period those spores germinate into more heat-susceptible forms. A second round of heating then kills these new vegetative cells, and repeating the cycles over several days increases overall sterility.

Because it relies on repeated heating with rests, it’s not continuous steam sterilization (which uses one sustained high-heat dose), nor chemical sterilization, nor ultraviolet sterilization.