Antiseptics & Disinfectants

Antiseptics & Disinfectants Overview

• Antiseptics inhibit microbial growth on living surfaces like skin or mucous membranes
• Disinfectants destroy or inhibit the growth of pathogenic organisms on non-living surfaces
• Sterilizing agents kill all forms of microorganisms, including spores
• Properties of good antiseptic/disinfectant include being cidal, non-staining, active against all pathogens, active in the presence of pus, blood and exudates, rapid acting, non-irritating to tissues, non-corrosive, non-absorbable, and non-sensitizing
• Mechanisms of action of antiseptics/disinfectants include oxidation of bacterial protoplasm, coagulation of bacterial proteins, disruption of the cell membrane, and detergent-like action
• Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, is a chemical compound with antiseptic properties
• Phenol is present in products like Dettol, Lysol, and phenol detergent as a disinfectant
• Phenol disrupts cell walls and denatures proteins, and is rapidly absorbed through the pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and dermal routes
• High concentrations of phenol disrupt the dermal barrier and penetrate the skin