Table 1 - Recommended Hard Surface Disinfectants
NAME |
EXAMPLE |
COMMENTS |
| Alcohol | 70% ethyl alcohol | Contact time required is 15 min. |
| 85% isopropyl alcohol | Contaminated surfaces take longer to disinfect | |
| Remove gross contamination before use | ||
| Inexpensive | ||
| Quaternary | Roccal™ | |
| Ammonium | Cetylcide | Rapidly inactivated by organic matter |
| Compounds may support growth of gm(-) bacteria | ||
| Chlorine | Chlorox™ (sodium hypochloride 10%) | Corrosive |
| Clidox™ (chlorine dioxide) | Presence of organic matter reduces activity | |
| Chlorine dioxide must be fresh (<14 days old) | ||
| Kills vegetative organisms within 3 min. of contact | ||
| Aldehydes | Cidex™ (gluteraldehyde) | Rapidly disinfects surfaces |
| Toxic | ||
| Exposure limits have been set by OSHA | ||
| Phenolics | Lysol™ | Less affected by organic material than other disinfectants |
| Chlorhexidine | Nolvasan™, Hibiclens™ | Presence of blood does not interfer with activity |
| Rapidly bactericidal and persistent | ||
| Effective against many viruses | ||