Disinfectants and mixtures of these. Minimal contact times should be at least 15 s on skin areas with few sebaceous glands and at least 10 min on sebaceous gland-rich ones. Mucosal disinfection: Germ counts can be reduced by PVP iodine or chlorhexidine (contact time 2 min), although not as effectively as on skin. Wound disinfection can be achieved with hydrogen peroxide (–1% solution; short, foaming action on contact with blood and thus wound cleansing) or with potassium permanganate ( solution, slightly astringent), as well as PVP iodine, chlorhexidine, and biguanidines. Hygienic and surgical hand disinfection: The former is required after. | 290 Disinfectants Disinfectants and Antiseptics Disinfection denotes the inactivation or killing of pathogens protozoa bacteria fungi viruses in the human environment. This can be achieved by chemical or physical means the latter will not be discussed here. Sterilization refers to the killing of all germs whether pathogenic dormant or nonpathogenic. Antisepsis refers to the reduction by chemical agents of germ numbers on skin and mucosal surfaces. Agents for chemical disinfection ideally should cause rapid complete and persistent inactivation of all germs but at the same time exhibit low toxicity systemic toxicity tissue irritancy antigenicity and be non-deleterious to inanimate materials. These requirements call for chemical properties that may exclude each other therefore compromises guided by the intended use have to be made. Disinfectants come from various chemical classes including oxidants halogens or halogen-releasing agents alcohols aldehydes organic acids phenols cationic surfactants detergents and formerly also heavy metals. The basic mechanisms of action involve denaturation of proteins inhibition of enzymes or a dehydration. Effects are dependent on concentration and contact time. Activity spectrum. Disinfectants inactivate bacteria gram-positive gram-negative mycobacteria less effectively their sporal forms and a few . formaldehyde are virucidal. Applications and mixtures of these. Minimal contact times should be at least 15 s on skin areas with few sebaceous glands and at least 10 min on sebaceous gland-rich ones. Mucosal disinfection Germ counts can be reduced by PVP iodine or chlorhexidine contact time 2 min although not as effectively as on skin. Wound disinfection can be achieved with hydrogen peroxide -1 solution short foaming action on contact with blood and thus wound cleansing or with potassium permanganate solution slightly astringent as well as PVP iodine chlorhexidine and biguanidines. Hygienic and surgical hand disinfection .
