Antiseptised

Antiseptised is the past participle form of the verb antiseptise, meaning treated with an antiseptic to inhibit or destroy microorganisms on living tissue. The term is primarily used in British English; in American English the verb is more commonly antiseptized or antiseptize. The related noun is antisepsis and the adjective antiseptic.

In medical practice, to antiseptise something means to apply an antiseptic solution to skin, wounds, or mucous membranes, or to prepare a surgical field. Common antiseptics include povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine. The goal is to reduce microbial load and lower the risk of infection while minimizing tissue irritation or toxicity.

Historically, antiseptised techniques were central to the development of antiseptic surgery in the 19th century, notably in the work of Joseph Lister, who promoted phenol-based antisepsis to prevent postoperative infections. The term appears in older clinical writings and case reports describing wound care, patient preparation, or instrument handling.

Distinctions are important: antisepsis refers to preventing infection on living tissue; disinfection targets inanimate objects; sterilization aims to destroy all forms of life, including spores. Because antiseptics can be toxic in certain concentrations or exposures, proper guidelines govern their use.

Today, the exact past-tense form persists mainly in historical or formal medical text, with modern prose more likely to say that a wound or area was prepared with an antiseptic. See also: antiseptic, asepsis, antisepsis, povidone-iodine, chlorhexidine.