19.

CHEMICAL
DISINFECTANTS,
ANTISEPTICS &
PRESERVATIVES
INTRODUCTION
*have ability to destroy or inhibit the
growth of microorganisms.

from the surfaces of inanimate

objects.
*British Standards Institution (BSI)
defines it as: -not necessarily killing all
microorganisms but reducing them to
a level acceptable for a defined
purpose.

*biocide(used to describe this group of

chemical agents; widely used
throughout European Union (EU)
directives)
EUROPEAN UNION REGULATIONS

Regulation of biocides continue

to develop in the EU and other
countries wherein guidance is
defined for both manufacturers
and users.
Biocidal Products Directive
98/8/EC
biocidal product (98/8/EC)
- Encompasses active
substances and preparations
containing one or more
active substances, put up in
the form in which they are
supplied to the user,
intended to destroy, deter,
render harmless, prevent the
action of, or otherwise exert
a controlling effect on any
harmful organism by
chemical or biological
means.

DEFINITIONS
Disinfection - process of removing
microorganisms, including pathogens,

High-level disinfection
indicates destruction of all
microorganisms but not
necessarily bacterial spores.
*liquid chemical sterilants or
chemosterilants(have good
sporicidal activity; can effect a
complete kill of all
microorganisms, as in
sterilization.
Intermediate-level disinfection
destruction of all vegetative
bacteria including
Mycobacterium tuberculosis but
may exclude some resistant
viruses and fungi & implies little
or no sporicidal activity.
Low-level disinfection- destroys
most vegetative bacteria, fungi
and viruses, but this will not
include spores and some of the
more resistant microorganisms.

Antisepsis- destruction or
inhibition of microorganisms on
living tissues having the effect of
limiting or preventing the harmful
results of infection.
*(BSI): not a synonym for
disinfection.
*Chemicals used are applied to the
skin and mucous membranes, so as
well as having adequate
antimicrobial activity they must not

be toxic or irritating for these

tissues.
*Antiseptics- mostly used to reduce
microbial population on skin before
surgey or on the hands to help
prevent spread of infection by this
route; sometimes formulated
containing significantly lower
concentrations of agents used for
disinfectants.
Preservatives prevent microbial
spoilage of the product & to
minimize the risk to the consumer
of acquiring an infection.
*Tend to be employed at very low
concentrations & levels of
antimicrobial action also tend to be
lower than for disinfectants or
antisepsis.

ECONOMIC ASPECTS

The international
antimicrobial chemical
market, particularly in
disinfectants, is expected to
grow on the basis of
concerns about bacterial and
other pathogenic threats.

*U.S. antimicrobial chemical

industry is estimated to be in the
region of $2 billion per annum.
FACTORS AFFECTING CHOICE
OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT
1. Properties of the chemical
agent
2. Microbiological challenge