Antiseptics &

Disinfectants
Definition of
Terms
• Antiseptics and disinfectants are extensively used in
hospitals and other health care settings for a variety of
topical and hard-surface applications.
• A wide variety of active chemical agents (biocides) are
found in these products, many of which have been used
for hundreds of years, including alcohols, phenols,
iodine, and chlorine.
• The widespread use of these products has prompted
some speculation on the development of microbial
resistance, in particular whether antibiotic resistance is
induced by antiseptics or disinfectants.

What are Antiseptics and

Disinfectants?
• Antiseptics and disinfectants are used extensively in hospitals
and other health care settings for a variety of topical and hard-
surface applications.
• In particular, they are an essential part of infection control
practices and aid in the prevention of nosocomial infections.
• Known mechanisms of microbial resistance (both intrinsic
and acquired) to biocides are reviewed, with emphasis on the
clinical implications of these reports.
• Mounting concerns over the potential for microbial
contamination and infection risks in the food and general
consumer markets have also led to increased use of antiseptics
and disinfectants by the general public.

What are they for?

• A wide variety of active chemical agents (or “biocides”)
are found in these products, many of which have been used
for hundreds of years for antisepsis, disinfection, and
preservation.
• . In general, biocides have a broader spectrum of activity
than antibiotics, and, while antibiotics tend to have specific
intracellular targets, biocides may have multiple targets.
• The widespread use of antiseptic and disinfectant products
has prompted some speculation on the development of
microbial resistance, in particular cross-resistance to
antibiotics

What are they for?

• Antiseptics and disinfectants are both used to kill or to
limit the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms.
• The use of both disinfectants and antiseptics is a fairly
recent addition to medical practice.
• Antiseptics - are used on exposed portions of the body,
often, but not always, at the site of a wound or surgical
incision, in order to prevent infection.
• Disinfectants - are used on other surfaces, ranging from
operating room surfaces to kitchen counters, in order to
destroy potentially dangerous microbes.

What is the difference?

• “Biocide” is a general term describing a chemical agent,
usually broad spectrum, that inactivates microorganisms.
Because biocides range in antimicrobial activity, other
terms may be more specific, including “-static,” referring
to agents which inhibit growth (e.g., bacteriostatic,
fungistatic, and sporistatic) and “-cidal,” referring to
agents which kill the target organism (e.g., sporicidal,
virucidal, and bactericidal).
• A number of biocides are also used for cleaning purposes;
cleaning in these cases refers to the physical removal of
foreign material from a surface

Biocides
• Considerable progress has been made in understanding
the mechanisms of the antibacterial action of antiseptics
and disinfectants.
• By contrast, studies on their modes of action against
fungi, viruses and protozoa have been rather sparse.

Mechanism of Action
• Sterilization refers to a physical or chemical process that
completely destroys or removes all microbial life,
including spores.

Sterilization
• Pasteurization is a process used in preserving heat
sensitive foods such as milk, beer, and other beverages.
Pasteurization uses mild temperatures (63-66°C for 30
minutes or 71°C for 15 seconds) to kill pathogens and
reduce levels of non-pathogenic organisms that cause
milk and other foods to spoil.

pasteurization
• Preservation is the prevention of multiplication of
microorganisms in formulated products, including
pharmaceuticals and foods.

Preservation
• is the primary method of eliminating pathogens from the
air supply.

Filtration
• Ionizing radiation (gamma radiation) can penetrate
deeper into objects, and is used to sterilize food, drugs,
and medical supplies.

• , UV radiation is only useful for disinfecting outer

surfaces.

Radiation
• The process known as disinfection is the killing,
inhibition, or removal of microorganisms that cause
disease. Disinfection may not necessarily eliminate
spores or all of the microorganisms from an object or
environment. While disinfection is not as extreme as
sterilization, but it is considered to be an adequate level
of cleanliness for most situations.

Disinfection
• Dry Heat
• Hot Air Oven
• Red-heat Flame
• Incineration
• Moist Heat
• Pasteurization
• Tyndallization (Fractional Sterilization)
• Boiling
• autoclaving

Heat Sterilization and

Decontamination
 TABLE 2 - Outline of the properties of heat decontamination methods. For everyday laboratory purposes, autoclaving is the preferred method, unless the item cannot withstand the heat and/or moisture of autoclaving.

  Principle/Conditions Advantages Disadvantages Uses

Dry Heat Thermal inactivation: destroys by oxidation Non-corrosive Less effective than moist heat; requires longer times and/or Materials that are damaged by, or are impenetrable to, moist heat
Simple design and principle higher temperatures

Hot Air Oven · 160-180�C for 2-4 hours · penetrates water-insoluble materials (e.g., grease and oil) · slow diffusion, penetration · anhydrous materials, such as oils, greases and powders
· less corrosive to metals and sharp instruments than steam · loading, packing critical to performance · laboratory glassware, instruments
· not suitable for reusable plastics · closed containers

Red-heat Flame · oxidation to ashes (burning) · rapid · initial contact with flame can produce a viable aerosol · inoculating loops, needles
· possibility of accidental fire

Incineration · oxidation to ashes (burning) · reduces volume of waste by up to 95% · improper use may lead to emission of pathogens in smoke · for decontamination of waste items prior to disposal in landfill
· 1-60 minutes: temperatures may exceed 1000 �C · requires transport of infectious waste
· excess plastic (>20%) content reduces combustibility

Moist Heat Irreversible coagulation of (microbial) proteins More rapid and more effective than dry heat    

Pasteurization · heating to below boiling point (generally 77 �C) for up to 30 · can be used on heat sensitive liquids and medical devices · not reliably sporicidal · milk and dairy products
minutes · low cost · some heat-sensitive medical equipment

Tyndallization (Fractional Sterilization) · heating to 80-100�C for 30 mins on successive days, with · resistant spores germinate and are killed on the second and · time consuming · heat sensitive materials such as bacteriologic media, solutions
incubation periods in between third days · not reliably sporicidal of chemicals, biological materials

Boiling · maximum temperature obtainable is approximately 100 �C · minimal equipment required · cumbersome: not practical for everyday lab use · small instruments and equipment
10-30 mins · not reliably sporicidal

autoclaving · steam under pressure · minimal time required · loading and packing critical to performance · penetration of sterile glassware, media and instruments
· 121�C/15 psi for 15-90 mins (gravity displacement autoclave) · most dependable sterilant for lab use · shielding dirt must first be removed · decontamination of reusable supplies and equipment
· 132�C/27 psi for 4-20 minutes (pre-vacuum autoclave) · maintenance and quality control essential · decontamination of infectious waste
· damages heat-sensitive itmes
• The light (approximately 260 nm wavelength) emitted by
UV lamps is germicidal, and can be used to reduce the
number of pathogenic microorganisms on exposed
surfaces and in air.

Ultraviolet Light
(Germicidal Lamps)
• Instruments or materials which cannot withstand sterilization in a
steam autoclave or dry-air oven can be sterilized with a gas such as
ethylene oxide or a broad spectrum liquid chemical germicide.
Chemical decontamination of surfaces may also be necessary for
very large or fixed items. Since liquid chemical germicides
generally require high concentrations and several hours of exposure
time for sterilization purposes, they are usually used for
disinfection rather than for sterilization purposes. The majority of
chemical disinfectants have toxic properties: follow the
manufacurer's directions for use and wear the appropriate personal
protective equipment (e.g., gloves, eye protection, apron),
especially when handling stock solutions.

Chemical Sterilants and

Disinfectants