What Is Meant by Disinfection

Disinfection is a process whose objective is well defined: it is directed and aims to eliminate the danger linked to the presence of certain microorganisms. Its purpose is to reduce the number of microorganisms to a level such that the risk of transmitting an infection can be eliminated in a particular application.

It is estimated, for example, that swimming pool water poses no risk of infection, when there are less than 100 germs / ml and the absence in 100 ml of germs of faecal origin, faecal coliforms or Pathogenic staphylococci (disinfection aims to obtain this result.

This is opposed to sterilization which aims overall to suppress all forms of life, without taking into account the nature and relative danger of the various species of microorganisms present.

A duly disinfected object is microbiologically safe in a particular case.Thus, an object disinfected for a certain purpose can be safe for this use, but remain dangerous if it was assigned a different use.

Among pathogenic microorganisms, there are different degrees of sensitivity to disinfectants available today.

Thus, Koch's bacillus, hepatitis viruses for example, are more difficult to eliminate. A high degree of difficulty is also encountered in eliminating spore-forming bacteria, such as the bacilli of tetanus and gas gangrene.

Thermal disinfection - Chemical disinfection

Disinfection by moist heat may be recommended whenever possible, rather than using a chemical, for inert objects.

The lowest useful temperature is 66 ° C for 30 minutes (pasteurization).

The temperature generally used is 80 ° C for 1 minute , which kills all germs in vegetative form including staphylococci which are the most resistant to this means of disinfection.

Qualifications of a disinfection product

The qualities required for a disinfection product vary depending on the purpose assigned to it.

1. When it comes to mucous membranes, wounds, natural cavities such as the pleura or the bladder, we speak more of an antiseptic than a disinfectant.

The work is quite different from that of disinfecting surfaces or objects and the products used are not the same. These are situations where the germs are generally in the active reproductive phase, therefore sensitive to all products that interfere with their metabolism.

The host's natural defenses, in particular by leukocyte phagocytosis, actively participate in the elimination of microorganisms, so that the antiseptic plays only a partial role in this elimination.

In contrast, disinfection of surfaces and objects must eliminate microorganisms which often have a very reduced metabolic activity and must eliminate them without the help of natural defenses: the disinfectant must necessarily be bactericidal.

The antiseptic can be simply bacteriostatic. It is easily understood that an antiseptic must be well tolerated by the tissues, must be non-toxic when it is absorbed, and should not be inactivated by organic matter. There is little concern about the cost of an antiseptic, since it is a drug placed directly in contact with fragile tissue.

2. The disinfection of the skin which will undergo a break-in (puncture, incision) or of the hands intended to perform a surgical intervention requires a very active product which eliminates the germs of the transient flora and the maximum of germs of the resident flora.

The requirements for routine "hand tool" disinfection are less stringent; they essentially aim to eliminate the transient flora.

These products must be well tolerated by living tissues and free from toxicity.

3. For objects and surfaces, we can accept an irritant or toxic product, provided that we can protect the personnel who apply it and make sure that the danger disappears after its application.

4. Water disinfection most often requires a product devoid of toxicity. The cost should be low. Organic matter is generally scarce, and this allows the choice of disinfectants which would not be usable in other indications.

Disinfection cleaning Los Angeles

Disinfection is a chemical reaction between the disinfectant and certain parts of the microorganism.

Disinfection therefore obeys the general laws of chemistry.