Swasthavritta, Ayurveda, Community medicine, 2nd paper

1. DISINFECTION
DISINFECTION 1

2. DEFINITIONS
DISINFECTION 2
• Disinfection: Thermal or chemical destruction of
pathogen and other types of microorganisms. Disinfection is
less lethal than sterilization because it destroys most
recognized pathogenic microorganisms but not necessarily
all microbial forms (e.g., bacterial spores).
• Disinfectant: Usually a chemical agent (but sometimes a
physical agent) that destroys disease-causing pathogens or
other harmful microorganisms, but might not kill bacterial
spores. It refers to substances applied to inanimate objects.

3. Contd.
DISINFECTION 3
•Sterilization : Validated process used to render a
product free from all forms of viable microorganisms
including bacterial spores. Sterilizer is the apparatus
used to sterilize medical devices, equipment or supplies
by direct exposure to the sterilizing agent.
•Antiseptic: Substance that prevents or arrest the
growth or action of micro-organisms by inhibiting the
activity or by destroying them. The term is used
especially for preparations applied topically to living
tissue.
•Asepsis : Prevention of contact with micro-organism.

4. •Sanitizer : Agent that reduces the number of bacterial
contaminants to safe levels as judged by public health
requirements. Commonly used with substances applied to
inanimate objects.
•Sterile: State of being free from all living micro
organisms.
•Hospital disinfectant : Disinfectant registered for use
in hospitals, clinics, dental offices or any other medical-
related facility. Efficacy is demonstrated against Salmonella
choleraesuis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa.

5. Properties of Ideal Disinfectant
1. Broad spectrum
2. Fast acting
3. Not affected by environmental factors
4. Non toxic
5. Surface compatible
6. Residual effect of treated surfaces
7. Easy usage
8. Economical
9. Soluble
10. Stable
11. Cleaner
12. Environmental friendly

6. Types of Disinfection:
1. Concurrent: as soon as
2. Terminal: removed, death, discharged
3. Precurrent : prophylactic

7. Types of disinfectants:
Natural Physical Chemical Miscellaneous
Sunlight Burning Phenol & related
compounds
Pasteurization
Air Hot air Quaternary NH Microwaving
Boiling Halogens Flushing and
water
disinfector
Autoclaving Alcohol UV Radiation
Radiation Formaldehyde O3
Oxidising agent
Metals
Lime
Ethylene Oxide

8. Chemical
Phenol & related
compounds
Phenol, Crude Phenol, Cresol, Cresol emulsion,
Chlorhexidine, Hexachlorphane, Dettol
Quaternary NH Cetrimide, Savlon
Halogens Cl compounds (Bleaching Pow, Hypoclorites, Cl
Tabs.) Iodine comp. (I soln. Iodophores)
Alcohol
Formaldehyde
Oxidising agent KMnO4 , H2O2 , Paracetic acid
Metals
Lime
Ethylene Oxide