Types of Disinfectant and Methods
1. Alcohol
2. Surface active agent
3. Aldehyde
4. Dyes
5. Halogens
6. Phenols
7. Gases
8. Metallic salts
9. Fumigation
10. Hydrogen peroxide
1. Alcohol;
a. Ethyl alcohol
Used in skin antiseptic.
b. Isopropyl alcohol
Used for disinfection of clinical thermometer.
For example; savlon
c. Methyl alcohol
Effective against fungal spores.
2. Aldehyde
1. Formaldehyde
It is bactericidal, sporicidal
Preserve anatomical specimens
Destroy Anthrax spores from wool
Used to Sterilized and clean instrument
Formaldehyde gas used for sterilizing instrument.
2. Glutaraldehyde
Effective against tubercle bacilli, fungi and virus.
Used for Sterilization of cystoscope and bronchoscope.
3. Use to Sterilized;
1. Anesthesia tube
2. Face mask
3. Metal instruments
3. Dye
1. Aniline dyes
2. Acridine dyes;
Used extensively as skin and wound antiseptics.
Used in clinical medicine
Disinfect the clinical air
Kill or destroy the reproductive capacity of microbial cell.
4. Halogens
1. Iodine
Used as disinfectant.
For example; Betadine
Act against microbial spores
Destroy tubercle bacilli and virus
Used for cleaning or disinfecting skin and treatment of injuries.
2. Chlorine
Disinfectants
Bactericidal
Against viruses
Water supplies, swimming pools
Diary industry use chlorine for disinfection
Used as antiseptics for dressing wound (Chloramines).
5. Phenols (carbolic acid)
These are coaltar carbolic acid compound.
Uses of phenols;
1. Phenolic compound use as disinfectant
2. Used to kill microorganisms
3. Powerful microbicidal substance
4. Lysol and cresol (compound) widely used as disinfectant in hospital.
5. Used in control of pyrogenic cocci in surgical and neonatal units in hospital.
6. Gases
1. Ethylene oxide
Used for sterilizing heart-lung machines, respirators, sutures and dental equipments.
Used to sterilized glass, metal, paper surfaces, clothing, plastic etc.
2. Formaldehyde gas
Used to fumigation OT
3. Beta propiolactone BPL
Killing microorganism
Bactericidal
7. Surface active agent
1. Anionic
2. Cationic
3. Nonionic
4. Amphoteric
Used as wetting agents.
8. Metallic salts
They are protein coagulants hence kill the microorganism.
1. Salt of Silver
Used in burns.
2. Salt of copper
Used as fungicides
3. Salts of mercury
Used as mild antiseptic
9. Lower temperature gas plasma (LTGP)
This leads to generation of free radicals which destroy the microorganism.
10. Ozone Sterilization
Use as disinfectant for water and food.
It is used both in gas and liquid form as an antimicrobial agent for treatment, stroage and processing of foods including meat, poultry and eggs.
Characteristics of an Ideal Disinfectant
It should;
1. High penetration power
2. Non toxic and non irritant
3. Not stain tissue
4. Not have unpleasant ordor
5. Easily available
6. Able to destroy infectious agent
7. Long shelf life
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