Chemicals

Ethyl or isopropyl alcohol

• Bactericidal agent against vegetative microorganisms

• Relatively fast acting (five minutes or more)

• No residue

• non-staining

• Low-level disinfectant

• Requires wet contact of at least five minutes to achieve a low level of disinfection

• To disinfect non-mobile equipment after cleaning and for patient care items such as stethoscopes

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

• Bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal against lipophilic viruses

• Wetting agents with built-in detergents properties

• Low-level disinfectant

• Incompatible with soap

• Environmental sanitation of non-critical surfaces such as furniture and walls

Iodophors

-buffed ions; (members of the halogen family)

-used as an antiseptics and disinfectants;

-should not be used on surgical instruments

-Bactericidal, virucidal, and tuberculocidal

-Corrosive to metals unless combined with anti-corrosive agents when formulated

-Detrimental to some plastics

Chlorine

• An intermediate level disinfectant that is commonly used for the treatment of water and sewage

• Effective against gram-positive and gram-negative (vegetative) microorganisms; tuberculocidal, fungicidal and virucidal

• Fast acting

• inactivated by organic matter

• Corrosive to metals

• Must remain wet on items to be disinfected one to two and a half minute (check IFU)

Phenolics

• Intermediate level to low-level disinfectant containing phenol

• Bactericidal for gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, fungicidal and tuberculocidal; active against lipophilic viruses

• Not sporicidal

• inactivated by organic material

• Copious rinsing is required to eliminate the potential for skin burns

• Environmental services usage for walls, floors, countertops and furnishing

Glutaraldehyde

• High Level disinfectant

• Kills vegetative bacteria within two minutes

• Bactericidal (gram positive and gram negative), tuberculocidal, fungicidal, virucidal and sporicidal

• Noxious odors; good ventilation is required

• Unstable (14 or 28 day product life)

Ortho-phthalaldehyde

• High Level disinfectant

• Solution is compatible with a wide range of endoscopes and other medical devices

• Requires no activation or mixing

• 14 day reuse life

• Can be discarded down facility drains in accordance with local regulations

• Does not have a sterilant label claim

Hydrogen Peroxide

• High level disinfectant

• Kills bacteria and viruses, including norovirus, rotavirus, RSV, MRSA and TB

• Can be used as a sterilant at the right concentrations

• Corrosive to some materials

• Disinfection of hard and soft surfaces

Peracetic Acid

• High level disinfectant

• Achieves HLD in five minutes at room temperature

• Broad spectrum HLD

• May be used as a sterilant in the appropriate AER

• Compatible with many materials

• Corrosive to some materials