CHEMICAL DISINFECTANTS

D. GURUSIVA
 INTRODUCTION
Objective of sterilization:

• Microorganisms are ubiquitous. Since they cause

contamination, infection and decay, it becomes
necessary to remove or destroy them from materials
or areas.
 DEFINITIONS
 Sterilisation: Process by which an article or surface or
medium is freed of all living microorganisms either in
vegetative or spore state.

 Disinfection: Destruction or removal of all

pathogenic organisms or organisms capable of

causing infection.
 CHEMICAL AGENTS
• Alcohols

• Aldehydes

• Dyes
• Halogens
• Phenols

• Gases

• Surface active agents

• Metallic salts
 Alcohols

 Mode of action: Alcohols dehydrate cells, disrupt

membranes and cause coagulation of proteins

 Eg: Methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol

 Use: used mainly as antiseptics.

 Isopropyl alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol is prefered as it is a better

fat solvent,more bactericidal and less
volatile than ethyl alcohol.

Used for disinfection of clinical

thermometers.

• Disadvantages: Skin irritant and

inflammable.
 Methyl alcohol
Effective against fungal spores.

Used for treating cabinets and

incubators

Disadvantages: Methyl alcohol

vapour is toxic and inflammable.
 Aldehydes
Mode of action: Acts through alkylation of amino-
,carboxyl- or hydroxyl groups and probably damages
nucleic acids.

Antimicrobial spectrum: Kills all microbes including

spores. Eg : Formaldehyde, Glutaraldehyde .
 Formaldehyde
• Active against amino group in protein

molecule. In aqueous solutions, it is

markedly bactericidal and sporicidal, also
has lethal effect on viruses.

• 10% formalin containing 0.5% sodium

tetraborate is used to sterilise clean metal
instruments.
 Glutaraldehyde
Specially effective against the tubercle
bacilli, fungi and viruses. It is less toxic
and irritant to the eyes and skin than
formaldehyde.

Used to disinfect cytoscopes and

bronchoscopes.

It can be safely used to treat corrugated

rubber anaesthetic tubes.
 Dyes

Two groups of dyes, aniline and acridine dyes are

used extensively as skin and wound antiseptics

Mode of action: Acridine dyes are bactericidal

because of their Interaction with bacterial nucleic
acids.
 Aniline dyes
Eg: Brilliant green, malachite green
and crystal violet. More active against
gram positive organisms than gram
negative organisms.

They have no activity against tubercle

bacilli, hence the use of malachite
green in lowenstein-jensen medium.
 Acridine dyes
Eg: Proflavine, acriflavine, euflavine, aminacrine.
More active against gram positive organisms than
gram negative organisms.

They impair DNA complexes of

organisms and thus kill or destroy
the reproductive capacity of the cell.
 Halogens
Mode of action: They are oxidizing agents and cause
oxidation of essential sulfydryl groups of enzymes.

Eg: Chlorine compounds: Chlorine, bleach,

hypochlorite

Iodine compounds: Tincture iodine and iodophores.

 Chlorine
Used commonly as hypochlorites. Water supplies,
swimming pools and food and
dairy industries use chlorine for disinfection.

They have a wide spectrum of action against viruses.

Organic chloramines are used as antiseptics for

dressing wounds.

Disadvantages: Bleach solution is corrosive and will

corrode stainless steel surfaces.
 Iodine
Actively bactericidal with moderate action
against spores.

Compounds of iodine with non-ionic

wetting or surface active agents are
known as iodophores, are more active
than aqueous or alcoholic solutions of
iodine.
 Phenols
Source: Phenols are coal-tar derivatives.
Obtained by distillation of coaltar between
170 and 270 degree celsius

Mode of action: Act by disruption of

membranes, precipitation of protien and
inactivation of enzymes.
 Phenols Contd..
Phenol (carbolic acid) is a powerful
microbicidal substance.

Lysol and Cresol are good general

disinfectants as they are not readily
inactivated by the presence of organic
matter. They are toxic to humans.

Aqueous solutions are used in the

treatment of wounds.
 Gases
Mainly three gaseous disinfectants are used.
They are:

1)Ethylene oxide

2)Hydrogen peroxide

3)Beta propiolactone
 Ethylene oxide
Mode of action:
• It is an alkylating agent. Acts alkylating sulfydryl-
,carboxyl- amino- and hydroxyl groups.

• In addition it reacts with DNA and RNA.

• It is especially used for sterilizing heart

lung machines, respirators, sutures,

dental equipment, books and clothing
 Contd..
Disadvantages: It is highly
toxic,irritating to eyes,skin, highly
inflammable,mutagenic and
carcinogenic.

By mixing it with inert gases such as

carbon dioxide or nitrogen,to a
concentration of 10%, its explodive
tendency is eliminated.
 Hydrogen peroxide
Mode of action:
It acts as an oxidant y producing hydroxyl free
radicals which attack cell components,
including lipids, protiens and DNA.

Fogging: It is a better method replacing

fumigation. It is done by fogging machine
using hydrogen peroxide as disinfectant.

Advantage: Short cycle time and non toxic.

 Contd..
Disadvantages:

• Decomposes in light, broken down by catalase,

proteinaceous organic matter drastically reduces its
activity.
 Beta propiolactone
Mode of action:
It is an alkylating agent.
Acts by alkylating sulfydryl, amino, carboxyl and
hydroxyl groups.
It is a condensation product of ketone
and formaldehyde.
It is no longer used as it has
carcinogenic activity.
 Surface active agents
Substances that alter the energy relationship at
interfaces, producing a reduction of surface tension,
are referred to as Surface active agents.
Classified into four main types:
1. Anionic

2. Cationic
3. Non-ionic
4. Amphoteric surface active agents.
 Contd..
Common compounds are acetyl trimethyl
ammonium bromide(cevlon or cetrimide)
and benzalkonium chloride.

Active at alkaline pH.

Disadvantages: Activity is reduced by hard water,

anionic detergents and organic matter.

Pseudomonas can metabolise cetrimide, using them

as a carbon, nitrogen and energy source.
 Metallic salts
• Mode of action:

• Act by precipitation of proteins and oxidation of

sulphydryl groups.

• Silver sulphadiazine is used for burns.

• Copper salts are used as fungicides.