Table of contents : Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of contributors......Page 8 Preface to the fourth edition......Page 9 Preface to the first edition......Page 11 Part 1: Principles......Page 12 1. Historical introduction......Page 14 2. Types of antimicrobial agents......Page 19 3. Factors influencing the efficacy of antimicrobial agents......Page 109 4. Biofilms and antimicrobial resistance......Page 139 5. Mechanisms of action of biocides......Page 150 6.1 Intrinsic resistance of Gram-negative bacteria......Page 165 6.2 Acquired resistance......Page 181 6.3 Resistance of bacterial spores to chemical agents......Page 194 6.4 Mycobactericidal agents......Page 202 7.1 Antifnungal activity of biocides......Page 216 7.2 Evaluation of the antibacterial and antifnungal activity of disinfectants......Page 230 8.1 Acanthamoeba, contact lenses and disinfection......Page 251 8.2 Intestinal protozoa and biocides......Page 269 9. Viricidal activity of biocides......Page 283 10. Transmissible degenerative encephalopathies: inactivation of the unconventional causal agents......Page 335 Part 2: Practice......Page 354 11. Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy......Page 356 12. Sterilization......Page 371 12.1 Heat sterilization......Page 372 12.2 Radiation sterilization......Page 395 12.3 Gaseous sterilization......Page 412 12.4 Filtration sterilization......Page 447 13. New and emerging technologies......Page 484 14. Preservation of medicines and cosmetics......Page 494 15. Reuse of single-use devices......Page 525 16. Sterility assurance: concepts, methods and problems......Page 537 17. Special problems in hospital antisepsis......Page 551 18. Decontamination of the environment and medical equipment in hospitals......Page 574 19. Treatment of laundry and clinical waste in hospitals......Page 597 20.1 Special issues in dentistry......Page 606 20.2 Veterinary practice......Page 615 20.3 Recreational and hydrotherapy pools......Page 625 21. Good manufacturing practice......Page 633 Index......Page 652