Question

List six factors that might influence the antiseptic or disinfectant qualities of a particular chemical agent?

Answer 1

Antiseptics or disinfectants are the chemicals which are used to to kill pathgens. Many naturally occuring chemicals and phenols have such properties as well as synthetic chemicals. The properties that influence the antiseptic or disinfectant qualities of a particular chemical agent can be discussed as below:

1. Activity: The activity of the chemical agent to kill the microbe determines its effectiveness as an anti-septic or disinfectant. More active the chemical is towards killing the microbes, more strong antiseptic or disinfectant it is.
2. Concentration: The concentration of the chemical at which it is utlized as an antiseptic or disinfectant determines its commercial usability by the consumer. The more dilute the chemical is for killing the microbes, the more usable it is for the consumers.
3. Irritant: Since disinfectants or antiseptics are used commercially and domestically, they are supposed to be non-irritant for the skin in order to prevent any un-wanted burns or bruises. Any irritant substance is not used for antiseptic or disinfectant purpose.
4. Time of action: The time taken by the chemical to kill the microbes and the effective time for which it further prevents any microbial growth makes it important for analysis as an antiseptic. More is the after-effect of the chemical, more suitable it is considered for commercial use.
5. Target microbe population: Any chemical which targets a broad range microbes such as gram positive, gram negative, endospores, fungi, yeasts, moulds etc is considered to be a good and suitable antiseptic or disinfectant.
6. Nature of chemical and mode of use: It has been generally noticed that phenols are better antiseptic and disinfectants as compared to other chemicals. Further, heating of these chemicals slightly above the ambient temperature yields better disinfectant effects than usual. Thus, the flash-point of these chemical also determines their usability as disinfectants.

Thus, it states that there are many important factors which make a chemical to be used as an antiseptic or disinfectant and hence, most of these qualities must be taken into account by the users.