CHEMICAL CONTROL OF

MICROORGANISMS

By:
R.Ph Dr. Saba Inayat Ali
Lecturer
Dow College of Pharmacy
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the topic, students will be able to;

• Differentiate between Antiseptics & Disinfectants.

• List the properties of an ideal Disinfectant/
Antiseptic.
• Differentiate halogens used as antiseptics from
halogens used as disinfectants.
• Describe the methods of action and preferred uses of
chemical disinfectants.
• Describe the appropriate uses for surface-active
agents.
 DISINFECTION
 Disinfection is the elimination of
pathogens, except spores, from inanimate
objects.

 Disinfectants are chemical agents used to

clean inanimate objects.

 Disinfectant VS Antiseptic
 THE IDEAL DISINFECTANT
 Must be able to kill microorganisms
 non-toxic to animals or humans esp. if used as antiseptic
 Should be soluble in water
 Should be useful in very diluted form and perform its job
in a relatively short time
 Stable
 Resistant to inactivation
 Penetrating
 Not corrode instruments
 Easy to obtain
 Inexpensive
 CHEMICAL CONTROL OF MICRO-
ORGANISMS
IMPORTANT CHEMICAL AGENTS

• Halogens
• Phenol and phenolic compounds
• Heavy metals
• Alcohols
 OTHER CHEMICAL AGENTS
• Formaldehyde
• Glutaraldehyde
• Ethylene oxide
• Beta propiolactone
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Soap and detergents
• Dyes
• Acids
 HALOGENS
Iodine
Chlorine
 IODINE
 One of the oldest and most effective
germicidal agents.

• As a small molecule, iodine rapidly

penetrates into microorganisms and
oxidizes key proteins, nucleotides, and fatty
acids, eventually leading to cell death

 Tincture of Iodine (2% I2+2% Na2I or KI in

70% alcohol) is a commonly used
antiseptic for wounds.

 Iodine comp. in different forms are valuable

as sanitizers for restaurant equipment and
eating utensils.
 IODINE
 Iodophors
 Iodophors are mixtures of iodine
with surface active agents which
acts as carriers and solubilizers
for the iodine. One of these
agents is PVP
(polyvinylpyrrolidone)
 The complex can be expressed
as PVP-I.
 Iodine is released slowly from
this complex and thus reduce
the irritation of the antiseptic
 CHLORINE
 Most widely used
disinfectants.
 Used to make safe drinking
water
 Used in swimming pools to
kill germs and make it clean
 Not sporicidal
The strong oxidizing effects of chlorine cause hydrogen to split
from water in moist tissue, resulting in the release of nascent
oxygen and hydrogen chloride which produce corrosive tissue
damage.
 CHLORINE
 active component of hypochlorite
 used as a disinfectant in home and
hospitals
 Hypochlorite compounds release
free chlorine in solution
 Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) also
known as Bleach
 Calcium hypochlorite [Ca(OCl)2]
also known as Chlorinated lime
 commonly used to sanitize public
swimming pools and disinfect
drinking water
 CHLORINE
 Chloramine, such as Chloramine-T, are
organic compounds that contain chlorine.

 These compounds release free chlorine

more slowly than hypochlorite sol. and are
more stable.

 They are valuable for general wound

antiseptics and root canal therapy
 PHENOL & PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS

 Damage membrane, inactive enzymes,

denature proteins.

 Very effective disinfectants.

 A 5% aqueous solution of phenol rapidly

kills the vegetative cells of microorganisms
BUT spores are much more resistant.
PHENOL & PHENOLICS
 PHENOL & PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS
 Cresols are methylphenols in which the
methyl group can be in the meta-, ortho-, or
para- position
 Cresol (phenol derv.) have greater
germicidal activity and lower toxicity than
the parent compound.
PHENOL & PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS
 Hexyl Resorcinol (phenol
dervivative)
 antiseptic, anthelmintic, and
local anesthetic properties.
 It can be found in topical
applications for minor skin
infections
 and in oral solutions or throat
lozenges for pain relief and
first aid antiseptic
 PHENOL & PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS

• Chloroxylenol (4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol)
• B.P.4.8%w/v
– Dettol antiseptic liquid
 PHENOL & PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS

 Bisphenols- combination of two

phenol molecules, are prominent in
modern disinfection and antiseptics.
 Examples:
1. Orthophenylphenol
-e.g. is used in Lysol (a saponified
cresol)
– Household cleaner and disinfectant
 PHENOL & PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS

•2. Hexachlorophene, was used extensively

during the 1950s & 1960s in tooth paste,
under arm deodorant and bath soap.

•the FDA in 1972 banned all non-prescription

uses of this drug, restricting hexachlorophene to
prescription use only, as a surgical scrub and
hand-wash product for health-care personnel.
 PHENOL & PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS

• Chlorhexidine, 4% sol. in isopropyl alcohol,

used as a surgical scrub, hand wash and
superficial skin wound cleanser.
 PHENOL & PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS

• Triclosan,
– destroys bacteria by
disrupting cell membrane
(& possibly, cell wall) by
blocking the synthesis of
lipids.
– included in antibacterial
soaps, lotions, mouth
washes, tooth pastes &
kitchen sponges.
• Triclocarban
• disruption of cellular membrane
– Antibacterial soap
 PHENOL CO-EFFICIENT
• Phenol has the additional distinction of being the
standard against which other disinfectants of a
similar chemical structure are compared to
determine their antimicrobial activity.

• PC is a number that indicates the disinfecting

ability of an antiseptic or disinfectant in
comparison to phenol under identical conditions.
 PHENOL CO-EFFICIENT
• A PC higher than 1 indicates that the
chemical is more effective than phenol.

• PC less than 1 indicates poorer

disinfecting ability than phenol.
 HEAVY METALS
• Mercury
• Silver
• Copper
MOA:
• Act by precipitation of proteins and
oxidation of sulfhydryl groups.
 MERCURY
• Mercuric chloride
– For treating skin diseases
– V.toxic to the host
– Anti microbial activity is reduced
when other organic matter is
present
• THIMEROSAL (mercury derv.),
previously used as a
preservative in vaccine
 COPPER
• Active against chlorophyll containing
organisms.
• Potent inhibitor of algae.
• As Copper sulfate, It is incorporated in to
algicides and is used in swimming pools
and municipal water supplies.
• Bordeaux mixture
– to control the growth of fungi
 SILVER
• Silver nitrate
• Skin antiseptic.
• 1% AgNO3 solution may be placed in the
eyes of newborns to protect against
infection by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
• Silver sulfadiazine is used to prevent
infections by burn wounds.
SILVER
• INFECTED EYE OF NEW BORN BY Neisseria
gonorrhoeae.
ALCOHOL
 ALCOHOLS
• Mode of action: Alcohols dehydrate cells,
dissolve lipids and disrupt membranes and
cause protein coagulation.

• Ethyl alcohol
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Methyl alcohol
 Ethyl alcohol
• Application: A 70%
aqueous solution is
more effective at killing
microbes than absolute
alcohols.
• (Protective Shell Around The Cell)

• 70% ethyl alcohol is

used as antiseptic on
skin.
• 60% to 95 %
• The term "rubbing alcohol" has become a
general non-specific term for either isopropyl
alcohol(isopropanol) or ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
rubbing-alcohol products.
 IPA
• Propyl and IPA in conc.
ranging from 40-80% are
bactericidal for vegetative
cells.
• IPA or rubbing alcohol, has
high bactericidal activity in
conc. as high as 99%
• It is used to disinfect clinical
thermometers.
• Alcohol swabs
 Methyl alcohol
• Methyl alcohol is less bactericidal than
ethyl alcohol.
• Methyl alcohol kills fungal spores, hence is
useful in disinfecting inoculation hoods.
• Methyl alcohol is toxic to tissues and is
used infrequently.
• Methyl alcohol is highly poisonous, even
the fumes of this compound may produce
permanent injury to the eyes.
 ALDEHYDE
• FORMALDEHYDE
• GLUTARALDEHYDE
 FORMALDEHYDE
• Formaldehyde (CH₂O) is a colorless,
highly toxic, and flammable gas at
room temperature.
• Reacts with functional group in
proteins & nucleic acids.
• FORMALIN: 37% solution in water.
• In Microbiology, formalin is used for
inactivating viruses in certain
vaccines.
• used to preserve biological specimen
• In gaseous form, formaldehyde is expelled into a
closed chamber where it is a sterilizing agent for
surgical equipment, hospital gowns & medical
instruments.
• Penetration is poor and the surface must be
exposed to the gas for up to 12 hours for
effective sterilization.
• Instruments can be sterilized by placing them in
a 20% sol. of Formaldehyde in 70% alcohol for
18 hrs.
• Formaldehyde leaves a residue, and
instruments must be rinsed before use.
 GLUTARALDEHYDE
• One of the most effective chemical liquids for
sterilization purpose
• Reacts with functional group in proteins &
nucleic acids.
 GLUTARALDEHYDE
• 2% sol. of this chemical (Cidex)
exhibits a wide spectrum of
antimicrobial activity.
• Vegetative cells- 10 – 30 minutes
• Spores-10 hours
• Effective against vegetative
bacteria, fungi, bacterial & fungal
spores and viruses.
• As a medication it is used to treat
warts on the bottom of the feet.
 GLUTARALDEHYDE
• Glutaraldehyde is 10 times more effective
than formaldehyde & is less toxic.
• Rinsing with sterile water is required.
• Activity is not reduced by the presence of
organic matter
• For sterilizing urological instruments,
respiratory therapy equipment & other special
equipment.
– Optical equipment
– Fiber optic endoscopes etc
• Cold sterilization
ETHYLENE OXIDE
• Mode of action: It is an alkylating agent.
• EtO's microbicidal activity is a result
of alkylation of proteins, DNA, and RNA in
microorganisms, which prevents normal
cellular metabolism and replication and
thus renders affected microbes nonviable.
• EtO is liquid at temp. below 10.8oC. Above
this temp. , it vaporizes rapidly.
• Excellent
penetration
capacity &
sporicidal activity.
• Toxic & highly
explosive.
• Since it is highly
flammable, it is
usually combined
with CO2 (10%
CO2+ 90% EO)
 ETHYLENE OXIDE
• It is an effective sterilizing agent for heat &
moisture sensitive materials.

• 10-12 hrs

• EtO is used to sterilize papers, leather, wood,

metal and rubber products as well as plastics.

• Approximately 50 percent of all medical devices

are sterilized with EtO
Medical Devices that Require EtO Sterilization
• Fiberoptic endoscopes • Renal hemodialysis sets
• Surgical kits • Tubing sets/bloodlines
• Syringes • Gowns and drapes
• Sutures • Heart valves
• Catheters • Pacemakers
• IV sets • Pumps
• Plastic tubing • Respirators
• Inhalation therapy • Electrical equipment
supplies • Uterine monitors
• Anesthesia masks and • Diagnostic electrode
circuits catheters
• Renal peritoneal dialysis
sets
ETHYLENE OXIDE
 BETA-PROPIOLACTONE
• Liquid
• Alkylating agent
– carboxyl- and hydroxyl- groups.

• It is an effective sporicidal agent, and has

broad-spectrum activity
• 0.2%
• used to sterilize vaccines, sera & surgical
instruments.
• Disadvantages: It has poor penetrating
power and is a carcinogen.
 HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

• It is an oxidizing
agent
– attacks sulfhydryl
groups
• antiseptic to clean
wounds
• 3%
• disinfect contact lenses
 HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
• Catalase (in tissues)
– breakdown hydrogen peroxide.
 SOAPS AND DETERGENTS

• A soap is a chemical compound of fatty

acids combined with potassium or sodium
hydroxide.

• pH-8.0
• as a de-germing agent for the mechanical
removal of m.org. from the skin surface.

• Soaps are ‘wetting agents’, i.e. they

emulsify & solubilize particles clinging to a
surface.
 Detergents
• Detergents are synthetic chemicals acting
as strong wetting agent & surface tension
reducers.

• Anionic
– Common laundry products
– Iodophors
• Cationic
– Quaternary ammonium compounds
 QUATS
 Quats are cationic detergents that act by
disrupting lipid bilayers.
 QUATS
• Quats are most effective against Gram-
positive bacteria
• Quats do not kill endospores,
Mycobacteria spp., nor non-enveloped
viruses

• Benzalkonium chloride
• Cetylpyridinium chloride
USES
 As sanitizing agents for industrial
equipment & food utensils.
 as skin antiseptics.
 in mouth washes.
 storage solution for contact lenses.
 For disinfecting hospital walls & floors.
 DYES

• TRIPHENYLMETHANE DYES
 Crystal violet
 Malachite green

• ACRIDINE DYES
 Acriflavine
 Proflavine
 TRIPHENYLMETHANE DYES

• As antiseptic against species of Bacillus &

Staphylococcus.
• As Gentian violet for trench mouth & for
Candida albicans infection such as thrush.
• MOA: interferes with the cell wall construction.
• The dye is bactericidal at very weak dilutions
 ACRIDINE DYES

• ACRIFLAVINE AND PROFLAVINE.

• Used as antiseptics for staphylococcal infection
in wounds.
• Bactericidal
• MOA: interact with bacterial nucleic acid
 ACIDS
• Benzoic acid
• Salicylic acid
• Organic acids are particularly valuable as
food preservative.
• Lactic & acetic acid
– sour foods such as
cheese & pickled
products.
• Propionic acid
– bakery products
– Calcium propionate
– Sodium propionate
 REFERENCE

• ALCAMO, Fundamentals of Microbiology,

6th Edition, CH# 22