IC6 Disinfectants Flashcards
Factors that affect efficacy of both disinfection and sterilisation (12)
- Prior cleaning of object (most important)
- Organic and inorganic load present
- Type and level of microbial contamination
- Exposure time to germicide
- Physical nature of object eg crevices, hinges, lumens
- Presence of biofilms
- Temperature and pH of disinfection process
- Number of microbes
- Innate resistance of microorganisms
- Concentration and potency of disinfectants
- Humidity
- Water hardness
Definition of sterilisation
Process that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life and is carried out in health care facilities by physical or chemical methods
Definition of disinfection
Process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects
Name the 4 most common vapour phase sterilants
1) ethylene oxide
2) formaldehyde
3) hydrogen peroxide
4) peracetic acid
What is the advantage of formaldehyde gas over ethylene oxide gas?
Non-explosive
What is the MOA of ethylene oxide and formaldehyde
They are broad-spectrum alkylating agents and they attack proteins, nucleic acids and other organic compounds; both are particularly reactive with sulfhydryl and other enzyme reactive groups
Name 2 disadvantages of using Ethylene oxide gas.
Mutagenic and explosive
Name the chemical disinfectants (16)
- Alcohol
- Ammonia
- Chlorine containing compounds
- QAC
- Aldehyde & Ortho phthalaldehyde OPA
- Biguanide
- Iodine and iodophors
- Peroxygen & Accelerated H2O2
- Peracetic acid
- Phenols
- Diamidines
- Silver compounds
- Chloroxylenol
- Mercuric chloride
- Benzalkonium chloride
- Vapour phase sterilants
MOA of UV lamps
Short wavelength UV light use to kill or inactivate microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting DNA
Uses of UV lamps (2)
- Supplement current hospital or laboratories cleaning and disinfection of contaminated surfaces
- Recently used for water treatment (usually coupled with ion sequestration and chlorine disinfection)
Factors affecting effectiveness of UV lamps
- Exposure time
- Intensity and wavelength of UV radiation
- Presence of interfering particles
- Microorganism’s UV innate resistance
- Line-of-sight exposure of microorganisms to UV light
Uses of alcohol (3)
- Hard surface disinfection and skin antisepsis, especially coupled with other excipients or other biocides
- Preservation
- Kill bacteria, virus, fungi (no spores)
What are some excipients used to enhance disinfectant activity and how do they enhance activity?
1) Emollient; makes the skin softer and allow for easier entry into 1st layer of skin and not just the surface
2) Surfactants; disrupt the outer layer of the bacteria and make them more sensitive to the disinfectant
3) Chelating agents; protects the disinfectant by complexing with metal ions
MOA of alcohol
- Inhibition of the production of metabolites essential for rapid cell division (bacteriostatic)
- Denaturation of proteins and this mechanism is increased by water
What is the MOA of ammonia
It works by saponifying lipids within the envelopes of microorganisms (affects lipids in outer membrane by complexing them and making them precipitate)
What is ammonia used for?
General purpose cleaner for many surfaces like glass and stainless steel (disinfectant)
Comment on the safety of ammonia
Irritant for the eyes and the gastric system (should not be ingested); if mixed with bleach, it may release chloramine which is toxic
Comment on the activity of aldehydes
Broad spectrum; Can kill spores, bacteria, fungi and viruses
What is the MOA of aldehydes
Biocidal activity of results from alkylation of sulfhydryl, hydroxyl, carboxyl and amino groups of microorganisms, which alters RNA, DNA and protein synthesis.
(RNA and DNA not as affected as much compared to protein synthesis as they need sulfhydryl groups to work, which is found in amino acid)
Name the disadvantages/ concerns of using aldehydes
Toxicity and their odor.
Name the advantages of OPA over aldehydes (formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde) and its limitations
Advantages:
1) More lipophilic compared to formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde and can be absorbed more effectively.
2) Not a known irritant to the eyes and nasal passages, barely no perceptible odor
Disadvantages:
Stains protein grey (including unprotected skin)
What are aldehydes used for?
Disinfectant, Preservation, antisepsis (not really)
MOA of biguanides
Chlorhexidine: damage membrane. Cross cell outer membrane by passive diffusion. Attacks bacterial cytoplasmic (coagulation or gelling) or inner membrane or yeast plasma membrane
Alexidine: lipid phase separation. Apoptosis via destruction of bacterial membrane
Chlorhexidine VS alexidine
Alexidine has faster onset of bactericidal activity and produces a significantly faster alteration in bactericidal permeability
Chlorine MOA
Largely attributed to undissociated hypochlorous acid (HOCl).
- Oxidation of sulfhydryl enzymes & aa. - Ring chlorination of aa.
- Inhibition of protein synthesis.
- DNA disruption.
- Loss of intracellular contents
List the strengths of chlorine. (6)
- Broad spectrum
- Cheap
- Fast acting
- Unaffected by water hardness
- Remove dried or fixed organisms and biofilms from surfaces
- Low incidence of serious toxicity (No toxic residues)
List the weaknesses of chlorine (5).
- Ocular irritation
- Burns (mouth, throat, stomach)
- Corrosiveness to metals in high concentrations
- Inactivation by organic matter
- Release of toxic chlorine gas
chlorine uses (3)
disinfectant, cleaning, antisepsis
Comment on the spectrum of activity of Iodine/Iodophors
Broad spectrum of activity against bacteria, virus, fungi.
Name the uses of Iodine and Iodophors
Iodine: antiseptics on skin or live tissue
Iodophors: antiseptics and disinfectants