Properties | Recommended Use | How They Kill | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds | ||||
• Long-proven history of use and effectiveness • Large list of selected healthcare and insitutional EPA registered formulations to choose from • Eye and skin irritant • Corrosive • Toxic | • Disinfection and cleaning of hard, nonporous surfaces (walls, floors, countertops, furniture, etc.) • Healthcare and institutional settings | Attaches to cell wall and affects the proteins and cell membrane of the microorganism, causing death. Releases nitrogen and phosphorous from the cell. | • Can be formulated with surfactants (cationic or nonionic) to provide effective cleaning and disinfecting in one easy step • Rapid action, colorless, odorless, and highly stable • May be used on food preparation surfaces. • Broad spectrum kill | • Does not eliminate spores, TB bacteria, and some viruses • Effectiveness influenced by hard water • Layer of soap interferes with action |
70% Isopropyl Alcohol Solution | ||||
• Flammable • Eye irritant • Toxic | • Cleaning some instruments • Cleaning skin | Changes protein structure of microorganism. Presence of water assists with killing action. | • Fairly inexpensive | • Using < 50% not very effective • Flammable • Not active when organic matter is present • Not active against certain types of viruses • Evaporates quickly; contact time is not sufficient |
Chlorine Compounds | ||||
• >1000 ppm Sodium Hypochlorite • Use caution when handling • Eye, skin, and respiratory irritant • Corrosive • Toxic | • Cleaning up human bodily fluids • Bactericidal • Fungicidal • Sporicidal | Hypochlorous acid forms when chlorine is added into water. The hypochlorous acid allows oxygen to combine with the cell protoplasm and the chlorine inhibits enzymatic activities, destroying the microorganism. | • Kills hardy viruses • Kills a wide range of organisms • Inexpensive • Penetrates well • Relatively quick microbial kill • May be used on food preparation surfaces • Tuberculocidal with extended contact time | • Corrodes metals such as stainless steel and aluminum • Organics may reduce activity • Increase in alkalinity decreases bactericidal property • Unpleasant taste and odor • Unstable • Will bleach and discolor |
Glutaraldehyde | ||||
• Eye, skin, and respiratory irritant • Sensitizer • Toxic | • Sterilize precleaned equipment • Bactericidal • Fungicidal • Excellent Tuberculocidal • Virucidal • Sporicidal | Denatures cell proteins by reacting with cell constituents. | • Nonstaining and relatively noncorrosive • Usable as a sterilant on plastics, rubber, lenses, stainless steel, and other items that can’t be autoclaved | • Not stable in solution • May leave greasy residue • Has to be in alkaline solution • Deactivated by organic matter • Needs high ppm for effect: Sanitizing: > 1,000 ppm; Disinfection: > 1% |
Iodophors | ||||
• Don’t confuse skin antiseptic iodophors for disinfectants • Dilution is critical • Eye and skin irritant • Corrosive • Toxic | • Disinfecting some semi-critical medical equipment • Bactericidal • Excellent Fungicidal • Excellent Virucidal | Free iodine enters microorganism and binds with cellular components. Surfactant (carrier) helps penetrate soil/fat. Need 30 - 50 ppm. Kills by disorder of protein synthesis due to oxidation of amino acids. | • Kills broad range of organisms • Highly reactive • Low issue toxicity • Kills immediately rather than by prolonged period of stasis • Not affected by hard water • May be used on food preparation surfaces • Tuberculocidal with extended contact time | • May stain plastics or corrode metal • May stain skin or laundry • Stains most materials • Unpleasant odor • Some organic and inorganic substances neutralize effect • Effective only in acid solutions • Costly |
Phenolic Compounds | ||||
• Very toxic to handle • Eye and skin irritant • Sensitizer • Corrosive | Excellent as a: • Bactericidal • Fungicidal • Tuberculocidal • Virucidal | Gross protoplasmic poison disrupts cell walls and precipitates cell proteins. Low concentrations inactivate essential enzyme systems. | • Nonspecific concerning bactericidal and fungicidal action • While boiling water could cause rusting, the presence of phenolic substances produce an antirusting effect | • Unpleasant odor • Some areas have disposal restrictions • Effectiveness is reduced by alkaline pH, natural soap, or organic material • Effective over narrow pH range • Easily deactivated by nonionic surfactants • Photodegradable • Too toxic for use on hands |
Hydrogen Peroxide | Hydrogen Peroxide | Hydrogen Peroxide | Hydrogen Peroxide | Hydrogen Peroxide |
• Strong oxider that is not compatible with many chemicals • Very dangerous to work with at concentrated levels • Strong oxider that is not compatible with many chemicals • Very dangerous to work with at concentrated levels • Corrosive | • Bactericidal • Virucidal • Fungicidal • Antiseptic | Hydrogen Peroxide combines with and oxidizes necrotic matter and bacteria. | • Does not leave a residue • Degrades into oxygen and water | • Strong oxidizer; reacts with a variety of chemicals • Useful at a limited pH range (avoid alkalinity) • Corrosive • While Hydrogen Peroxide is inflammable, the oxygen produced from it is flammable • Reactions with Hydrogen Peroxide can cause fire due to excess heat • Ineffective as a disinfectant at low concentrations |
Conventional Liquid Disinfectant List
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