An antiseptic is defined as an agent that prevents or reduces infection by eliminating or decreasing the growth of microorganisms. Which term best matches this definition?

An antiseptic is defined as an agent that prevents or reduces infection by eliminating or decreasing the growth of microorganisms. Which term best matches this definition?

• A. Antiseptic
• B. Staphylococci
• C. Flagella
• D. Contamination

Answer: (A)

Understanding what an antiseptic does helps here. An antiseptic is a chemical applied to living tissue to prevent or reduce infection by eliminating or slowing the growth of microorganisms. That exact idea matches the definition given, so the best choice is antiseptic. In practice, you’ll see antiseptics like alcohol, iodine, or chlorhexidine used on skin or wounds to lower microbial load while staying safe for living tissue. The other terms describe either a type of microorganism (staphylococci), a bacterial structure used for movement (flagella), or the presence of microbes where they shouldn’t be (contamination), none of which describe an agent that protects living tissue from infection.

Understanding what an antiseptic does helps here. An antiseptic is a chemical applied to living tissue to prevent or reduce infection by eliminating or slowing the growth of microorganisms. That exact idea matches the definition given, so the best choice is antiseptic. In practice, you’ll see antiseptics like alcohol, iodine, or chlorhexidine used on skin or wounds to lower microbial load while staying safe for living tissue. The other terms describe either a type of microorganism (staphylococci), a bacterial structure used for movement (flagella), or the presence of microbes where they shouldn’t be (contamination), none of which describe an agent that protects living tissue from infection.