Types of disinfection: what to consider when choosing a disinfectant
There is no shortage of options when it comes to disinfection. But how can you be sure you are choosing the right product? The right disinfectant can help keep spaces safe by eliminating potentially dangerous pathogens. However, not all products have the same level of effectiveness. The composition of products intended for disinfection is crucial, as is their compatibility with the surface on which they are used. Contact time, along with the action against some or all categories of microorganisms, are also important aspects to consider when choosing a disinfectant.
Table of Contents
- How do disinfectants work?
- What should be considered when choosing a disinfectant?
- Surface compatibility
- Eliminating bacteria, viruses, and fungi
Almost every surface around us contains bacteria and microorganisms. It might be surprising to learn that there are more than 600,000 bacteria on one square centimeter of human skin. Although most of these are harmless to humans, there are also microorganisms that cause dangerous, and even deadly, diseases in the absence of a rigorous disinfection process. One of the most contagious diseases of 2020 was COVID-19.
Therefore, the regular use of the right types of surface disinfectant solutions is essential to help prevent the spread of various conditions such as the common cold, the flu, and many gastrointestinal ailments. Since we all know that there are many types of disinfectants on the market, it is very important to understand how they work. Taking into account their advantages and disadvantages is key to making a correct decision regarding the best way to disinfect and protect the people in your community.
1. How does the disinfection process work?
Any surface disinfectant solution is composed of chemical agents applied to destroy bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold, or other living organisms on objects. By definition, a disinfectant formula must be approved by the Ministry of Health, the Biocidal Products Commission.
The active ingredient in every disinfection formula is the factor that kills pathogens, usually by destroying or damaging their cells. Active ingredients are usually aided by other ingredients with various purposes. For example, surfactants can be added to a disinfectant formula to ensure consistent wetting of a surface or to aid in cleaning.
Klintensiv Tip: Always choose products approved by the Ministry of Health through the Biocidal Products Commission, as these are the only ones that guarantee a high level of efficacy, as well as safety in use.
Quaternary ammonium compounds
A top choice for disinfection in hospitals and institutions, due to their low cost and rapid action against a wide range of microorganisms. Quaternary ammonium compounds can be formulated with a variety of detergents to provide both cleaning and disinfection capabilities.
Chlorine compounds
This category of surface disinfectant kills a range of organisms, including resistant viruses, and is highly recommended for cleaning up bodily fluids. Chlorine-based disinfectants are inexpensive and have a relatively faster kill time; however, they can be harmful and cause discoloration, as well as irritation if not used according to instructions. Chlorine disinfectant is suitable for use in medical environments and in areas intended for food processing and preparation.
Alcohol
When diluted in water, alcohols are effective against a wide range of bacteria, although higher concentrations are often required for disinfection in the case of wet surfaces. The downside is that they evaporate quickly, are highly flammable, and may lack organic soil tolerance claims, meaning they may not be effective when organic matter, for example, is present.
Aldehydes
Very effective against the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, but they require a high parts-per-million ratio to be effective for disinfection. Some bacteria have developed a resistance to aldehydes. They can also leave greasy residues and must be in an alkaline solution.
Iodophors
Iodophors, from the category of instrument disinfectants, can be used for disinfection of semi-critical medical equipment, but they can stain surfaces and may have an unpleasant odor (like iodine).
Phenolic compounds
Effective against pathogenic bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as fungi and viruses.
Hydrogen peroxide
When formulated as ready-to-use surface disinfectants, hydrogen peroxide-based products are viewed as "greener" and more environmentally friendly. This is because they break down into the natural elements of hydrogen and oxygen. They are slightly acidic and are effective cleaning agents. At high concentrations, hydrogen peroxide can become unstable and dangerous.
2. What should be considered when choosing a disinfectant?
With the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and more virulent strains of well-known pathogens like Clostridium difficile, the use of proper disinfection products has become extremely important.
Speed of the disinfection process
It may be surprising, but a surface disinfectant solution does not act instantly upon contact with a surface. Each product requires a certain period of time during which it must remain wet on a surface to achieve complete disinfection. This is known as the "contact time" and is noted on the product label.
To ensure effective disinfection of a surface, the contact time must always be respected. Products that dry out before this contact time is reached – whether because it is too long (10 minutes) or because the product itself contains solvents or alcohols that cause it to evaporate quickly, despite having a short in vitro contact time – will not achieve complete disinfection. Therefore, ideal disinfectant solutions will offer fast and realistic contact times. This ensures compliance and ultimately provides confidence that disinfection will be achieved.
Spectrum of microbicidal efficacy
The war we are waging against microbes is one against an invisible enemy. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible for us to easily identify what microorganisms are present on a surface at any given time. This raises the question: how can we properly use products from the surface disinfectant category that only demonstrate efficacy against a narrow spectrum of easy-to-kill bacteria and viruses? How do we address hard-to-eliminate pathogens, such as norovirus, when using these narrow-spectrum products? Ideal disinfectants will demonstrate broad antimicrobial efficacy, ultimately preventing the environmental transmission of a wide range of microorganisms, including potentially resistant strains.
Cleaning capacity
The cleaning efficacy of a disinfectant is an often overlooked attribute. Perhaps not as flashy as the kill spectrum or speed, the cleaning efficacy – or lack thereof – of a disinfectant has the potential to affect the entire sanitization process.
Best practices for infection control clearly recommend that the cleaning process precede the disinfection of a surface. Dust, dirt, and organic matter can create protective reservoirs for pathogens if they are not removed effectively.
Using a disinfectant that is considered an effective cleaning agent not only eliminates the need to add secondary cleaning products but also provides additional confidence that in situations where a formal cleaning step was missed or performed inadequately, the disinfectant itself will remove the dirt, allowing for disinfection.
Often, this is achieved by including surfactants in the product's composition. Surfactants not only enhance a product's cleaning efficacy but also help ensure complete and uniform coverage on a surface.
User health and safety
As the needs for infection control expand beyond traditional settings, such as hospitals, into the community, so does the use of surface disinfectants. The resulting increased exposure amplifies the need for safer chemicals. Preferably, disinfectant chemicals should be free of volatile organic compounds, meaning they do not emit harmful, toxic, or irritating vapors for the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract.
Unfortunately, most chemical products for disinfection must either compromise their overall effectiveness as a germicide to meet increased safety needs or, conversely, compromise their safety profile to achieve broad-spectrum germicidal efficacy. An ideal disinfectant will strike a balance between safety and efficacy without compromise.
Klintensiv Tip: For more efficient cleaning and disinfection processes, you can choose to use a disinfectant cleaner. These products have the ability to both remove dirt (organic matter) and eliminate a wide spectrum of microorganisms.
3. Compatibility of a surface disinfectant with the contact area
In an ideal world, a single effective disinfectant product would be available for use on all surfaces. Unfortunately, no disinfectant solution, not even disinfectant wipes, is 100% compatible with all surfaces.
In our homes, we would never think to use a bathroom cleaner to clean our windows, wooden tables, and leather furniture. So, why do we expect to use a single disinfectant product on all surfaces in an institutional setting?
Most disinfectants used exhibit good material compatibility profiles when used according to the manufacturer's instructions; however, certain applications or surface substrates may require increased attention. Most often, the simple implementation of distinct protocols is a sufficient means for addressing the issue.
Therefore, an ideal disinfectant should excel in all major decision-making criteria. The disinfectant must clean effectively, thus removing all microbial load from a surface. It should be effective against a wide spectrum of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, etc.) within a fast and, ultimately, realistic contact time, and the product's chemical profile should be sustainable. Finally, it should be safe for users and occupants of the environment, as well as for the environment itself after use.
4. Eliminating bacteria, viruses, and fungi
The disinfection procedure and the products used during this process are aimed at eliminating harmful microorganisms from surfaces to prevent cross-contamination. Disinfection is effective (also) against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and the disinfectants used to eliminate these pathogens can be termed bactericides, virucides, and fungicides, respectively.
In most cases, a specific surface disinfectant product is designed for a specific purpose and must be used in a specific way. Therefore, users should carefully read the labels to ensure that the correct product is selected for the intended use and applied effectively. Disinfectants are not interchangeable, and incorrect concentrations and inappropriate disinfectants can lead to excessive costs.
Klintensiv Tip: For the elimination of fungi and molds, use a specialized product, such as an antifungal solution, as it has the capacity to remove mold spores.
Conclusions
Sorting through information about different types of disinfectants takes time, but it is an essential step to making the best decision in choosing the right products. By having effective solutions on hand, along with a solid plan for preventing diseases and infections, healthcare facilities and commercial agents alike will save effort and expenses and prevent potentially dangerous infections.
It is extremely important that the selected disinfectant solutions have bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal capabilities. It is imperative to delve deeper into information about disinfectants, as each of them varies in terms of use, effects, corrosion, color, and odor.
Sources:
Types of Disinfectants: How to Make the Best Choice for Your Facility
