Utah Esthetics Written State Practice Exam

The term that refers to a substance promoting the growth of bacteria is indeed a nutrient medium. This type of substance provides the essential nutrients, such as carbon, nitrogen, vitamins, and minerals, necessary for bacterial growth and reproduction. Nutrient media are particularly important in microbiology for culturing bacteria in laboratories, allowing for the study of their characteristics and behaviors.

Bactericides, on the other hand, are agents that destroy bacteria, making them opposite in function to nutrient media. Antiseptics are substances that inhibit the growth of microorganisms on living tissues, and disinfectants are used to kill bacteria on inanimate surfaces. Neither of these options is designed to promote bacterial growth, but rather to either inhibit or eliminate it. This distinction is crucial in understanding the roles that different substances play in microbiology and the field of esthetics, especially in contexts where maintaining a sterile environment is essential.