Antiseptics And Disinfectants: Types, Difference, Examples, Uses, FAQs

Antiseptics can be defined as antibacterial agents that can be applied to the body of living organisms to prevent the action of microorganisms. Instead of being injected into the body like antibiotics, it is applied to the surface of the skin to repair living tissue in the event of a wound or cut.

Dettol is the most commonly used disinfectant. It is a combination of chloroxylenol and terpineol. Iodoform is also used as a wound antiseptic.

A disinfectant can be defined as an antimicrobial agent that can be applied to the surface of some objects in order to destroy the microorganisms present on them.

How Do It Kill Germs?

The simple answer to these agents is antibacterial.

Disinfectants are antibacterial agents. A disinfectant does not have to kill all germs. It is not as effective as sterilization. The sterilization process kills all types of organisms, while disinfectants only kill certain types of microbes. Usually, applied to floors or drainage systems. Most of the cleaning products that are commonly used in homes and offices are nothing more than disinfectants.

Type Of Disinfectants

Common types of disinfectants are:

1.Air Disinfectant: A chemical used to kill microorganisms in the air. Also known as disinfectant spray.

2.Alcohol: You see alcohol is used as a disinfectant. Ethanol is the most common example of this. Other examples of disinfectants are chlorine with concentrations of 0.2 to 0.4 in aqueous solutions and sulfur dioxide, which acts as a disinfectant in low concentrations.

Type Of Antiseptics

Some preservatives are bactericidal in nature, meaning they have the ability to completely destroy microorganisms. Other preservatives only inhibit microbial growth (or prevent microbial growth altogether). Such substances are commonly known as bacteriostatic preservatives.

Difference Between Antiseptics And Disinfectants

Both sanitizers and disinfectants are used to kill microorganisms, but there are still differences between the two-

  • Antiseptics are used to kill microorganisms in living tissue, while disinfectants are used for inanimate objects.

  • Second, both concentrations are different. By varying the concentration, the same chemicals can be used as disinfectants and preservatives.

  • For example, phenol can be used as a disinfectant at a concentration of 0.2%, but it must be at a concentration of 1% to be used as a disinfectant.

  • We can easily conclude that cleaning products contain antiseptics and healing products (to tighten living tissue) contain antiseptics.

  • Both have similar properties, but in different concentrations. Lysol is an antiseptic while Dettol is an antiseptic.

Examples Of Disinfectants And Antiseptics

Examples of disinfectants

There are different types of disinfectants that can be used to maintain industrial and commercial facilities. They are meant to be used in specific ways and to kill specific microbes. A disinfectant may not kill all types of germs. For example, most disinfectants do not kill microbial spores.

Examples of chemical disinfectants are listed below-

  • Alcohol: Diluted with water, alcohol kills almost all types of bacteria. A high concentration of alcohol is required to disinfect wet surfaces. The limitation of alcohol is that it is volatile and highly flammable. Ethanol and isopropanol are two common alcohols.

  • Aldehydes: High amounts of aldehydes (ppm) are very effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

  • Phenolic compounds: Phenolic compounds such as cresol, lysol and xylenol have been used in hospitals as cleaning and disinfecting materials for about 40 years. They are effective against many bacteria such as tuberculosis, fungi and viruses. However, they are very poisonous and corrosive. While it attacks those microbes, it also attacks surfaces.

Examples of antiseptics

There are different types of antiseptics. A few are safe for home use, but many are only suitable for clinical or hospital use. Some common examples of antiseptics are listed below-

  • Alcohol: Alcohols such as isopropyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol are used to disinfect the skin before needling. It is also used in hand sanitizers.

  • Lysol: These compounds are used both as disinfectants and disinfectants. It is used for household and industrial cleaning.

  • Iodine (povidone-iodine): a well-known antiseptic that is used to disinfect the skin before and after surgery.

  • Peroxides and Permanganates: Both are used as skin disinfectants or mouthwashes.

  • Boric Acid: Boric acid is often used as an antiseptic for minor burns and cuts.

  • Carboxylic acid (also known as phenol): used to sterilize surgical instruments and clean wounds.

  • Antibacterial dyes: used to treat wounds and burns.

Use Of Disinfectants And Antiseptics

Use of disinfectants

  1. Hospital instruments are usually disinfected with 2% glutaraldehyde.

  2. Chlorine 0.2-0.5 ppm is used to clean or disinfect water and swimming pools.

  3. 3% peroxide is used on skin, minor wounds and mucous membranes to kill bacteria.

  4. 0.2-1% peroxyacetic acid is used to disinfect plastic and glass containers.

  5. Phenol is used as a floor and tile cleaner in hospitals, homes and public places.

  6. Aseptic conditions mean an environment that is completely free of bacteria. This is especially important in the ICU and surgery. Various disinfectants are used to create sterility in laboratories and other required areas.

  7. Chlorine Disinfectant II is an example of a chlorine disinfectant used in medical environments and food preparation processes.

  8. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is used to kill a wide range of bacteria and viruses. Hydrogen peroxide cleaners are also used to kill SARS-CoV-2 in just 1 minute.

Use of antiseptics

  1. To clean the skin before surgery antiseptics are used.

  2. If the skin or mucous membranes are damaged during surgery, antiseptics are used in the affected area to reduce the possibility of infection.

  3. They are used to wash hands. Chlorhexidine gluconate and povidone-iodine solutions are used in hand washing and hospital hand scrubs.

  4. Alcohol in concentrations higher than 60% can kill viruses such as SARS and COVID-19. Therefore, it is used in disinfectants to clean hands.

  5. Tincture of iodine (solution of 2-3% alcohol and water) is used to treat wounds.

  6. Antiseptics are also used to prevent skin infections from wounds, cuts, abrasions, and minor burns.

  7. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are two disinfectants that are commonly used for skin infections.

  8. Antiseptics are used to treat some throat and mouth infections.