Words like disinfect and sanitise are often used interchangeably and without much understanding. Here’s a few working definitions for you:
- Microbe – a microorganism such as a bacterium or virus. A microbe might not cause disease or infection.
- Pathogen – a bacterium, virus or other microorganism that can cause disease.
- Fomite – objects or materials which can carry pathogens, such as clothes, footwear or tyres.
- Vector – an organism that does not cause disease itself but which spreads infection by conveying pathogens from one host to another, ie., mosquitos are a vector for malaria.
- Disinfect – inhibit the growth of pathogens on a surface.
- Biocide – something that kills biological life.
- Sanitise – make something clean and free of bacteria or other pathogens.
- Sterilise – eliminate all microbes.
- Point of Entry – a single entry point through which visitors must pass before entering your property. The inference is that visitors should not pass through the point of entry unless they have mitigated their biosecurity risks.
- Mitigate risks – identify and reduce risks to a manageable level.