various antimicrobials

Question 1

phenols

Answer 1

target of antimicrobial?
disrupts the plasma membrane

ex. triclosan

Question 2

halogens

Answer 2

target of antimicrobial?
oxidizes cytochromes in membrane to reduce ATP production

ex. iodine (povidone/ betadine) and chlorine (bleach/chloramine)

Question 3

alcohols

Answer 3

target of antimicrobial?
dissolves lipids (enveloped viruses) and denatures proteins
*except endospores

ex. ethanol, isopropanil

Question 4

heavy metals

Answer 4

target of antimicrobial?
denatures proteins, sometimes precipitating them from solution

ex. Ag- silver

Question 5

soap

Answer 5

target of antimicrobial?
phycial/ mechanical removal of microbes

ex. plain soap

Question 6

quats

Answer 6

target of antimicrobial?
dissolves plasma membrane and denatures proteins

ex. Benzalkonium chloride (bactine)

Question 7

aldehydes

Answer 7

target of antimicrobial?
combines with nucleic acids to denature proteins

ex. formaldehyde, glutaraldhyde

Question 8

ethylene oxide

Answer 8

target of antimicrobial?
combines with proteins to inactivate them

ex. ethylene oxide