DISINFECTANT

AND
PRESERVATIVES
Dr. Niveen daoud

TERMS RELATED TO
DESTRUCTION OF
ORGANISMS

Terminology and Methods of Control

Sterilization a process that destroys all viable
microbes, including viruses and endospores
Disinfection a process to destroy vegetative
pathogens, not endospores; inanimate objects
Antiseptic disinfectants applied directly to exposed
body surfaces
Sanitization any cleansing technique that
mechanically removes microbes from surfaces ( plates ,
glasses, dairy equipments. ect)
Degermation reduces the number of microbes
through mechanical means ( swapping with alchol)
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Microbial
Sensitivity
to
Chemical
Biocides

TYPE OF MICROORGANISM

Gram

positive generally
more sensitive to disinfection
Pseudomonas spp. resistant
to disinfection

Actions of Microbial Control Agents

Mechanisms of action for Antimicrobial control
agent

Alternation of membrane permeability

Damage to proteins
Damage to nucleic acids
Interfere with metabolic pathways

Methods may be Physical or Chemical

Physical like heat
Chemical like disinfectants

Factors That Affect Death Rate

The effectiveness of a particular agent is
governed by several factors:
Number of microbes
Nature of microbes in the population
Temperature and pH of environment
Concentration or dosage of agent
Mode of action of the agent
Presence of solvents, organic matter, or
inhibitors
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Figure 7.1b

Figure 11.2

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Practical Concerns in Microbial Control

Selection of method of control depends on circumstances:
Does the application require sterilization?
Is the item to be reused?
Can the item withstand heat, pressure, radiation, or
chemicals?
Is the method suitable?
Will the agent penetrate to the necessary extent?
Is the method cost- and labor-efficient and is it safe?
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Antimicrobial Agents Modes of Action

Cellular targets of physical and chemical agents:
1. The cell wall cell wall becomes fragile and cell
lyses; some antimicrobial drugs, detergents, and
alcohol
2. The cell membrane loses integrity; detergent
surfactants
3. Protein and nucleic acid synthesis prevention of
replication, transcription, translation, peptide bond
formation, protein synthesis; chloramphenicol,
ultraviolet radiation, formaldehyde
4. Proteins disrupt or denature proteins; alcohols,
phenols, acids, heat
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Figure 11.3

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Figure 11.4

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Mechanisms of Action
Protein damage

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Factors that Affect Germicidal

Activity of Chemicals

Nature of the material being treated

Degree of contamination
Time of exposure
Strength and chemical action of the
germicide

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Germicidal Categories
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Halogens
Phenolics
Chlorhexidine
Alcohols
Oxidizing agents ( H2O2)
Detergents & soaps
Heavy metals
Aldehydes
Gases
Dyes
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1- Halogens
Chlorine Cl2, hypochlorites (chlorine bleach),
chloramines

Denaturate proteins by disrupting disulfide bonds

Intermediate level
Unstable in sunlight, inactivated by organic matter
Water, sewage, wastewater, inanimate objects

Iodine - I2, iodophors (betadine)

Interferes with disulfide bonds of proteins
Intermediate level
Milder medical and dental degerming agents, disinfectants,
ointments
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Hypochlorite's
They have a broad
spectrum of
antimicrobial activity,
are unaffected by
water hardness, are
inexpensive and fast
acting, and have a
low incidence of
serious toxicity

Iodine And Iodophor Disinfectants

These compounds have
been incorporated in time
release formulations and
in soaps (surgical
scrubs).
bactericidal, sporicidal,
virucidal and fungicidal
but require a prolonged
contact time.

Iodine And Iodophor Disinfectants

The disinfective ability of
iodine, like chlorine.
Iodine tinctures can be
very irritating to tissues,
can stain fabric and be
corrosive.

2- Phenolics
Disrupt cell walls and membranes and
precipitate proteins
Low to intermediate level bactericidal,
fungicidal, virucidal, not sporicidal
Examples: Lysol
Triclosan antibacterial additive to soaps

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Amphyl
Dilutable, phenol-based cleaner is an effective
germicidal, fungicidal, virucidal &
tuberculocidal agent on hard, nonporous
surfaces.
Prevents growth of mold & mildew & their
odors.
Sanitizes laundry, blankets & cloth diapers.
Use on floors, walls, equipment, bed frames,
bathroom fixtures, wheelchairs & more !

3- Chlorhexidine
A surfactant and protein denaturant with
broad microbicidal properties
Low to intermediate level
Examples: Hibiclens, Hibitane
Used as skin degerming agents for
preoperative scrubs, skin cleaning, and
burns
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Chlorhexidine
Low toxicity
Used on skin
and mucous
membranes

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4- Alcohols
Ethyl, isopropyl in solutions of 50-95%
Act as surfactants dissolving membrane
lipids and coagulating proteins of vegetative
bacterial cells and fungi
Intermediate level
It is antiseptic

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Ethanol

Alcohols kill vegetative forms of bacteria

(including TB) and fungi, but have no action on
spores or
viruses
Their effect depend on concentration and type of
alcohol.
70-80% alcohol inactivates HIV and Hepatitis B
in 2-10 minutes.

5- Oxidizing Agents

Ozone
Hydrogen peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide
Peracetic acid
Interfere with metabolism (especially of
anaerobes)

5- oxidizing agents
A- Hydrogen Peroxide
Produce highly reactive hydroxyl-free
radicals that damage protein and DNA
while also decomposing to O2 gas toxic to
anaerobes
Antiseptic at low concentrations; strong
solutions are sporicidal

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B- Per acetic Acid

Peracetic, or peroxyacetic, acid is characterized by
a very rapid action against all microorganisms. A
special advantage of peracetic acid is it has no
harmful decomposition products (i.e., acetic acid,
water, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide) and leaves no
residue. It remains effective in the presence of
organic matter and is sporicidal even at low
temperatures

Per acetic Acid

It is used in automated machines to chemically
sterilize medical, surgical, and dental instruments
(e.g., endoscopes, arthroscopes).

Per acetic acid and

hydrogen peroxide useful in
Hemodialyzers
this product inactivated
all microorganisms with
the exception of bacterial
spores within 20
minutes. The
combination of per acetic
acid and hydrogen
peroxide has been used
for disinfecting hem
dialyzers.

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