What is Disinfection?

 

Disinfection is the process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects. In health-care settings, objects usually aredisinfected by liquid chemicals or wet pasteurization. Each of the various factors that affect the efficacy of disinfection can nullify or limit the efficacy of the process..



Methods of Disinfection

  • Chemical Disinfectants
  • Alcohol
  • Chlorine and chlorine compounds
  • Formaldehyde
  • Glutaraldehyde
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Iodophors
  • Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA)
  • Peracetic acid
  • Peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide
  • Phenolics
  • Quaternary ammonium compounds

 

Miscellaneous Inactivating Agents

 Other germicides

 Metals as microbicides

 Ultraviolet radiation

 Pasteurization

 

 Flushing- and washer-disinfectors

 

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