Difference between revisions of "Disinfectant"
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | A chemical or physical treatment that inhibits or kills microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoans). By the mid-19th century, disinfectants, such as [ | + | A chemical or physical treatment that inhibits or kills microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoans). By the mid-19th century, disinfectants, such as [[phenol]] (carbolic acid) and [[iodine]], were recognized for their ability to reduce infractions. Currently the following major classes of chemical disinfecting compounds are used: |
| − | - Heavy metals and their compounds: [ | + | - Heavy metals and their compounds: [[copper]], [[silver]] (silver sulfadiazing, [[silver nitrate]]), and mercury ([[merthiolate]], [[mercuric chloride]]) |
| − | - Halogens: iodine ([ | + | - Halogens: iodine ([[Betadine®]]), and chlorine compounds ([[chlorine dioxide|chlorine gas]], sodium [[sodium hypochlorite]], [[chloramine T|chloramine]], [[hexachlorophene]], [[chlorhexidine]]) |
| − | - Alcohols: [ | + | - Alcohols: [[ethyl alcohol|ethanol]], [[isopropyl alcohol|isopropanol]] |
| − | - Coal tar compounds ([ | + | - Coal tar compounds ([[cresol]], [[creosote oil (wood)|creosote]], phenol, phenolics) and [[pine oil]] |
- Surfactants: both cationic and anionic detergents | - Surfactants: both cationic and anionic detergents | ||
| − | - Gas phase disinfectants: [ | + | - Gas phase disinfectants: [[ozone]], [[ethylene oxide]], [[sulfur dioxide]], [[formaldehyde]], chlorine gas |
- Ammonia: quaternary ammonia compounds kill gram positive bacteria | - Ammonia: quaternary ammonia compounds kill gram positive bacteria | ||
| − | - Oxidizers: ozone, ethylene oxide; [ | + | - Oxidizers: ozone, ethylene oxide; [[hydrogen peroxide]] |
| − | - Aldehydes and organic acids: formaldehyde, [ | + | - Aldehydes and organic acids: formaldehyde, [[glutaraldehyde]], [[sorbic acid]], [[citric acid]], [[benzoic acid]] Physical methods of disinfection include: |
- Radiation: infrared (heat sterilization) and ultraviolet light (surface only) | - Radiation: infrared (heat sterilization) and ultraviolet light (surface only) | ||
Revision as of 13:37, 14 January 2014
Description
A chemical or physical treatment that inhibits or kills microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoans). By the mid-19th century, disinfectants, such as Phenol (carbolic acid) and Iodine, were recognized for their ability to reduce infractions. Currently the following major classes of chemical disinfecting compounds are used:
- Heavy metals and their compounds: Copper, Silver (silver sulfadiazing, Silver nitrate), and mercury (Merthiolate, Mercuric chloride)
- Halogens: iodine (Betadine®), and chlorine compounds (chlorine gas, sodium Sodium hypochlorite, chloramine, Hexachlorophene, Chlorhexidine)
- Alcohols: ethanol, isopropanol
- Coal tar compounds (Cresol, creosote, phenol, phenolics) and Pine oil
- Surfactants: both cationic and anionic detergents
- Gas phase disinfectants: Ozone, Ethylene oxide, Sulfur dioxide, Formaldehyde, chlorine gas
- Ammonia: quaternary ammonia compounds kill gram positive bacteria
- Oxidizers: ozone, ethylene oxide; Hydrogen peroxide
- Aldehydes and organic acids: formaldehyde, Glutaraldehyde, Sorbic acid, Citric acid, Benzoic acid Physical methods of disinfection include:
- Radiation: infrared (heat sterilization) and ultraviolet light (surface only)
- Moist heat: boiling or steam autoclaving
- Pasteurization: heating and cooling cycles
- Filtration: laminar flow fume hoods
- Low Temperature: stops growth but does not kill all spores
- Desiccation: prevents growth and replication but does not kill spores
- Osmotic pressure:
Synonyms and Related Terms
antiseptic; germicide; biocide
Hazards and Safety
Mercury compounds are poisonous. Many antiseptic cause skin irritation.
Authority
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 271
- Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
- A Glossary of Paper Conservation Terms, Margaret Ellis (ed.), Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, New York City, 1998
- Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Disinfectant." Encyclopædia Britannica. 7 Sept. 2004 .
- Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
- The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
- Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
- Website address 1 Comment: swyslwyg://76/htp://mindquest.net/biology/microbiology/outlines/u_cgrwth.html