Summary and Comparison of Liquid Disinfectants

Class Recommended Use How They Work
70% Isopropyl ƒ Cleaning some
Alcohol Solution instruments
ƒ Cleaning skin
Advantages Disadvantages Comments & Hazards Examples
ƒ Changes protein ƒ Fairly inexpensive ƒ <50% solution not ƒ Flammable
structure of micro- very effective ƒ Eye irritant
organism ƒ Not active when ƒ Toxic
ƒ Presence of water assists organic matter
with killing action present
ƒ Not active against
certain types of
viruses
ƒ Evaporates quickly
ƒ Contact time not
sufficient for killing

Chlorine ƒ Spills of human body ƒ Free available chlorine ƒ Kills hardy viruses ƒ Corrodes metals such ƒ Follow spill ƒ Bleach solutions
Compounds fluids combines with contents (e.g., hepatitis) as stainless, procedure and (sodium
ƒ Bactericidal – good within microorganism, ƒ Kills a wide range of aluminum dilution instructions hypochlorite)
ƒ Fungicidal – good reaction byproducts organisms ƒ Organics may reduce ƒ Make fresh solutions ƒ Clorox
ƒ Sporicidal – good at > cause its death ƒ Inexpensive activity before use ƒ Cyosan
1000 ppm Sodium ƒ Need 500 to 5000 ppm ƒ Penetrates well ƒ Increase in alkalinity ƒ Eye, skin and ƒ Purex
Hypochlorite ƒ Produce chemical ƒ Relatively quick decreases respiratory irritant
combination with cell microbial kill bactericidal property ƒ Corrosive
substances ƒ May be used on food ƒ Unpleasant taste and ƒ Toxic
ƒ Depends upon release of prep surfaces odor
hypochlorous acid ƒ Tuberculocidal, with
extended contact
time

Glutaraldehyde ƒ Bactericidal – good ƒ Coagulates cellular ƒ Non-staining, relatively ƒ Not stable in solution ƒ Eye, skin and ƒ Calgocide 14
ƒ Fungicidal – good proteins noncorrosive ƒ Has to be in alkaline respiratory irritant ƒ Cidex
ƒ Tuberculocidal – ƒ Useable as a sterilant on solution ƒ Sensitizer ƒ Vespore
excellent plastics, rubber, lenses, ƒ Inactivated by ƒ Toxic
ƒ Virucidal – good stainless steel and other organic material
ƒ Sporicidal – good items that can’t be
autoclaved

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 Class Recommended Use How They Work
Iodophors ƒ Disinfecting some ƒ Free iodine enters
(Iodine with semicritical medical microorganism and
carrier) equipment binds with cellular
ƒ Bactericidal – very components
good ƒ Carrier helps penetrate
ƒ Fungicidal – excellent soil/fat
ƒ Virucidal - excellent ƒ Need 30 to 50 ppm
ƒ Probably by disorder of
protein synthesis due to
hindrance and/or
blocking of hydrogen
bonding
Advantages Disadvantages Comments & Hazards Examples
ƒ Kills broad range of ƒ May stain plastics or ƒ Dilution critical ƒ Bactergent
organisms corrode metal ƒ Follow directions! ƒ Hy-Sine
ƒ Highly reactive ƒ May stain skin/ ƒ Use only EPA ƒ Ioprep
ƒ Low tissue toxicity laundry registered hard ƒ Providone (iodine
ƒ Kills immediately rather ƒ Stains most materials surface iodophor /betadine)
than by prolonged ƒ Odor disinfectants ƒ Wescodyne
period of stasis ƒ Some organic and ƒ Don’t confuse skin
ƒ Not affected by hard inorganic substances antiseptic iodophors
water neutralize effect for disinfectants
ƒ May be used on food ƒ Tuberculocidal, with ƒ Skin and eye irritant
prep surfaces extended contact ƒ Corrosive
time ƒ Toxic
ƒ Sporicidal, some

Phenolic ƒ Bactericidal – excellent
Compounds ƒ Fungicidal – excellent
ƒ Tuberculocidal –
excellent
ƒ Virucidal – excellent
ƒ Gross protoplasmic
poison
ƒ Disrupts cell walls
ƒ Precipitates cell proteins
ƒ Low concentrations
inactivate essential
enzyme systems
ƒ Nonspecific concerning ƒ Unpleasant odor ƒ Skin and eye irritant ƒ Hil-Phene
bactericidal and ƒ Some areas have ƒ Sensitizer ƒ Lph
fungicidal action disposal restrictions ƒ Corrosive ƒ Metar
ƒ When boiling water ƒ Effectiveness ƒ Toxic ƒ Vesphene
would cause rusting, reduced by alkaline
the presence of pH, natural soap or
phenolic substances organic material
produces an antirusting ƒ Sporicidal, no
effect

Quaternary ƒ Ordinary housekeeping
Ammonium (e.g., floors, furniture,
Compounds walls)
(QUATS) ƒ Bactericidal – excellent
ƒ Fungicidal – good
ƒ Virucidal – good (not
as effective as phenols)
ƒ Affects proteins and cell ƒ Contains a detergent to ƒ Does not eliminate ƒ Select from EPA list ƒ Coverage 258
membrane of help loosen soil spores, TB bacteria, of hospital dis- ƒ End-Bac
microorganism ƒ Rapid action some viruses infectants ƒ Hi Tor
ƒ Releases nitrogen and ƒ Colorless, odorless ƒ Effectiveness ƒ Skin and eye irritant
phosphorous from cells ƒ Non-toxic, less influenced by hard ƒ Toxic
corrosive water
ƒ Highly stable ƒ Layer of soap
ƒ May be used on food interferes with action
prep surfaces

This information was provided to the University of Virginia by:

Barbara Fox Nellis

Johnson & Johnson
Clinical Diagnostics
1999 Lake Avenue
Bldg. 83, KRL
Rochester, NY 14650-2209
phone: (716) 453-5697
fax: (716) 453-5696

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