Modes of Action

James Rutherford
Unit 4 Assignment 1

Lysol

Common household disinfectant also used in

hospitals.
It is used to disinfect and clean floors,
bathrooms, basins.
It is also used to clean organic waste such as
urine and feces.
Mode of Action: Lysol disrupts cell
membranes and denaturizes proteins and
enzymes. It is affective against vegetative
gram negative and positive bacteria,
mycrobacteria, and viruses.

Alcohol Based Sanitizers

Alcohol based hand sanitizers are meant to

supplement soap and water when it is
unavailable. It is not meant to replace.

While eliminating and reducing the number

of microbes, sanitizers do not eliminate all
germs.

Oxidizing

Hydrogen peroxide releases nascent oxygen

that is highly reactive. It combines and
oxidizes necrotic matter.

It is used for wound care such as cleaning

ulcers and infected wounds.

Because of its poor surface penetration it

can produce contact dermatitis.

Iodine

Acts against rapidly acting broad spectrum

such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

It acts by iodinating and oxidizing microbial

protoplasm.

Used mainly against cuts and degerming

skin before surgery.

Can cause burns and blisters.

Biguanides Chlorhexidine

Acts by disrupting bacterial cell membrane

and denaturation of bacterial proteins.

It is a non irritatnt that is more active

against gram + bacteria.

Used commonly for surgical scrub, neonatal

bath, mouth wash and general skin
antiseptic.

Soaps

Soaps are anionic detergents that weaken

antiseptics with cleansing actions.

Washing with soap and warm water is one

of the most affective methods of preventing
disease transmission.

It is only affective against Gram + bacteria.

Oxidizing

Benzoyl Peroxide is most commonly used in

killing acne bacteria.

It liberates O2 in presence of water which

kills bacteria, especially anaerobes.

Aldehydes

Glutaraldehyde is important for use as a

disinfectant and sterilant in low
temperature disinfection and sterilization of
endoscopes and surgical equipment.

It is affective against bacteria and their

spores, fungi, and viruses.

References
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P
MC88911/
http://
www.slideshare.net/nasertadvi/antisep ticsand-disinfectants-15555738
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/
hazards/infection/infection.html
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/16/health/ha
nd-sanitizer-toxic-upwave.org