What term denotes the practice of preventing the growth and spread of infectious germs through antibacterial methods?

• A. Antisepsis
• B. Angina
• C. Amputees
• D. Alzheimer's

Answer: (A)

Preventing the growth and spread of infectious germs with antibacterial methods is called antisepsis. This involves applying antiseptic agents to living tissues, like skin or mucous membranes, to inhibit or kill germs and reduce the risk of infection. It's distinct from sterilization, which aims to destroy all microbes on inanimate objects, and from disinfection, which lowers germ levels on surfaces but may not eliminate them entirely. The other terms refer to conditions or people, not infection-control practices: angina is chest pain related to heart blood flow, amputees are individuals who have lost a limb, and Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease. Antisepsis is the correct term.