Chemical Agents Used to Control Microbial Growth (table 7.5)
Halogens
Mechanism of Action varies for this class and can include: inhibiting protein function, oxidation, and altering cellular components.
Heavy Metals (and their compounds)
Mechanism of Action: Denaturation of enzymes and other essential proteins.
Biguanides (Chlorohexidine)
Mechanism of Action: Diruptions of Plasma Membrane
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
Mechanism of Action: Enzyme inhibition, protein denaturation, and disruption of plasma membranes.
Nitrates/Nitrites
Mechanism of Action: Inhibits certain iron-containing enzymes of anaerobes.
Soaps (and detergents)
Mechanism of Action: Mechanical removal of microbes through scrubbing.
Organic Acids
Mechanism of Action: Metabolic inhibition, mostly affecting molds; action not related to their acidity.
Acid-anionic Sanitizers
Mechanism of Action: Not certain; may involve enzyme inactivation or disruption.
Peroxygenes (and other forms of Oxygen)
Mechanism of Action: Oxidation.
Bisphenols
Mechanism of Action: Probably disruption of plasma membrane.
Alcohols
Mechanism of Action: Protein denaturation and lipid dissolution.
Aldehydes
Mechanism of Action: Protein denaturation.
Ethylene Oxide (and other gaseous sterilants), Plasma Sterilization, Supercritical Fluids
Mechanism of Action: These three are chemical sterilization chemicals that inhibits vital cellular function.
Phenol and Phenolics
Mechanism of Action: these two chemicals disrupt plasma membranes and denature enzymes.
Organic Acids
Preferred Use of this class varies: Chemical food preservative; Sorbic acid and benzoic acid effective at low pH; parabens used in cosmetics, shampoos; calcium propionate used in bread.
Nitrates/Nitrites
Preferred Use of this class varies: Chemical food preservatives; Meat products such as ham, bacon, hot dogs, and sausage.
Heavy Metals (and their compounds)
Preferred Use of this class varies: Silver nitrate may be used to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum; silver-sulfadiazine is used as a topical cream on burns; copper sulfate is an algicide.
Peroxygenes (and other forms of Oxygen)
Preferred Use: Contaminated surfaces; some deep wounds, in which they are very effective against oxygen-sensitive anaerobes.
Bisphenols
Preferred Use: Disinfectant hand soaps and skin lotions.
Supercritical Fluids
Preferred Use: Especially useful for sterilizing organic medical implants.
Plasma Sterilization
Preferred Use: Especially useful for tubular medical instruments.
Alcohols
Preferred Use: IN thermometers and other instruments and skin swabbing before injections.
Ethylene Oxide (and other gaseous sterilants)
Preferred Use: Mainly used for sterilization of materials that would be damaged by heat.
Acid-anionic Sanitizers
Preferred Use: Sanitizers in dairy and food-processing industries.
Soaps (and detergents)
Preferred Use: Skin degerming and removal of debris.
Biguanides (Chlorohexidine)
Preferred Use: Skin disinfection, especially for surgical hand scrubbing.
Phenol
Preferred Use: This chemical is rarely used ass a disinfectant or antiseptic because of its irritating qualities and disagreeable odor; may be used as a standard of comparison.
Aldehydes
Preferred Use: Used for disinfecting medical equipment.
Phenolics
Preferred use: Environmental surfaces, instruments, skin surfaces, and mucous membranes.
Halogens
Proffered Use of this Class varies: Iodine is an effective antiseptic available as a tincture and an iodophor; chlorine gas is used to disinfect water; chlorine compounds are used to disinfect dairy equipment, eating utensils, household items, and glassware.
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
Proffered Use: Antiseptic for skin, instruments, utensils, rubber goods.
