INTRODUCTION:

ANTIRHEUMATIC: Antirheumatic drugs are drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Antirheumatic agent: agent that relieves or prevents rheumatic disease, especially rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a crippling form of arthritis.

PurposeRheumatoid arthritis is a progressive form of arthritis that has devastating effects on joints and general health. It is classified as an auto-immune disease, because the disease is caused by the bodys own immune system acting against the body itself. Symptoms include painful, stiff, swollen joints, fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite.Denoting an agent which suppresses manifestations of rheumatic disease; usually applied to anti-inflammatory agents or agents that are capable of delaying progression of the basic disease process in inflammatory arthritis.

ANTIMICROBIAL:

 

Antimicrobial: A drug used to treat a microbial infection. An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Antimicrobial drugs either kill microbes (microbicidal) or prevent the growth of microbes (microbistatic)Antimicrobial is a general term that refers to a group of drugs that includes antibiotics, antifungals, antiprotozoals, and antivirals.Antimicrobial is a term given to any type of chemical compound that can aid in the death or suppress the growth of microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, mycoplasma, etc). Antimicrobial compounds work by damaging the machinery inside of cells that is required to keep them functioning. The actions of antimicrobials do not always kill all the microorganisms found in the environment that they are being used. Some microorganisms can possess DNA or genes that carry the information necessary to destroy, and/or inactivate the action of antimicrobials.

Types of Antimicrobial Products:

• algae,
• odor-causing bacteria,
• bacteria which cause spoilage, deterioration or fouling of materials and microorganisms infectious only to animals. This general category includes products used in:
  •  cooling towers
  • jet fuel
  • paints
  • treatments for textile and paper products.

• Sterilizers (Sporicides): Used to destroy or eliminate all forms of microbial life including:
  •  fungi,
  • viruses,
  • all forms of bacteria and their spores.

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  • steam under pressure (autoclaving)
  • dry heat ovens (used primarily for sterilization of medical instruments)
  • low temperature gas (ethylene oxide) (used primarily for sterilization of medical instruments)
  • liquid chemical sterilants (used primarily for delicate instruments which cannot withstand high temperature and gases).

• Disinfectants: Used on hard inanimate surfaces and objects to destroy or irreversibly inactivate infectious fungi and bacteria but not necessarily their spores. Disinfectant products are divided into two major types:
  • hospital type disinfectants are the most critical to infection control and are used on:
    • medical and dental instruments
    • floors, walls
    • bed linens
    • toilet seats, and other surfaces
  • general use disinfectants are the major source of products used in:
    •  households
    • swimming pools
    • water purifiers.

• Sanitizers: Used to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, microorganisms from the inanimate environment to levels considered safe as determined by public health codes or regulations. Sanitizers include:
  •  food contact products - These products are important because they are used on sites where consumable food products are placed and stored. Sanitizing rinses for surfaces such as:
    • dishes and cooking utensils
    • equipment and utensils found in:
      • dairies
      • food-processing plants
      • eating and drinking establishments
  • non-food contact products - Non-food contact surface sanitizers include:
    • carpet sanitizers
    • air sanitizers
    • laundry additives
    • in-tank toilet bowl sanitizers.

• Antiseptics and Germicides: Used to prevent infection and decay by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. Because these products are used in or on living humans or animals, they are considered drugs and are thus approved and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).