Disinfectant Levels

Question 1

What are examples of low level disinfectants?

Answer 1

Quats. Hydrogen peroxide, iodophors, phenolics

Question 2

What are examples of intermediate level disinfectants?

Answer 2

Phenolics, alcohols, halogens

Question 3

What are examples of high level disinfectants?

Answer 3

Glutaraldehyde, OPA, hydrogen peroxide

Question 4

What are QUATS

Answer 4

A low level disinfectant that are cationic. They are used for environmental cleaning and are incompatible with soaps. They are not the disinfectant of choice for MDRD for their lack of activity against Pseudomonas

Question 5

What are phenolics

Answer 5

An intermediate to low level disinfectant that penetrate cell walls and precipitate cell protein. Maximum disinfection requires wet contact for 20 minutes

Question 6

What are halogens?

Answer 6

An intermediate disinfectant that are known for their reactivity. Most common being chlorine and iodophors

Question 7

What are alcohols

Answer 7

Alcohols work by changing the structure of proteins. It must remain in wet contact for at least 5 minutes. Ethyl and isopropyl work best at disinfecting