What is the term for aseptic control that inhibits or retards the growth of pathogenic organisms?

The term that describes aseptic control which inhibits or retards the growth of pathogenic organisms is "antisepsis." Antisepsis involves the use of antiseptic agents that are applied to living tissue to reduce the possibility of infection, injury, or sepsis. Antiseptics do not necessarily eliminate all pathogens but significantly reduce their numbers and the risk of infection. This is a crucial practice in healthcare settings where maintaining hygiene and preventing infection is vital to patient safety and healing.

Antimicrobial agents can be confused with antiseptic practices; however, while antimicrobials are designed to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, antiseptics specifically apply to their use on living tissue. Antigens are substances that can induce an immune response and have no direct relevance to the control of pathogens in a medical or hygienic context. Control measures generally refer to broader practices within infection control, including sterilization and disinfection, which go beyond the specific action of inhibitors. Thus, antisepsis is the precise term for the control measure focused on limiting pathogenic growth directly on living tissues.