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Recently, “disinfectants,” or germicides, has gain public attention during COVID-19 pandemic. So, what types of agents are considered as “disinfectants?”
Germicides as classified into three broad categories
1. Antiseptics – chemicals applied to living tissue to kill or inhibit microorganisms
a. Iodine & iodophors (e.g. Povidone-iodine; aka Betadine)
b. Chlorine, bleach (sodium hypochlorite)
c. Chlorhexidine
d. Hydrogen peroxide
e. Alcohols (ethanol and isopropanol)
2. Disinfectants – chemicals applied to inanimate objects to kill or inhibit microorganisms
a. Formaldehyde
b. Phenol (aka carbolic acid)
c. Substituted phenols (e.g. hexachlorophene; aka pHisoHex)
d. Quaternary ammonium compounds (benzalkonium chloride; aka Zephiran)
3. Sterilants – chemicals applied to inanimate objects to kill all microorganisms including spores
a. Ethylene oxide
b. Glutaraldehyde
Although ethanol is frequently found in alcoholic beverage and consumable, no other chemicals should be ingested or injected.