Antiseptics
Antiseptics and Disinfectants
Introduction
Antiseptics and disinfectants are extensively used in hospitals and other health care settings for a variety of topical and hard-surface applications. A wide variety of active chemical agents (biocides) are found in these products, many of which have been used for hundreds of years, including alcohols, phenols, iodine, and chlorine. Most of these active agents demonstrate broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity; however, little is known about the mode of action of these agents in comparison to antibiotics. The main differences between antiseptics and disinfectants are that disinfectants are used primarily to sanitize objects, and antiseptics are used on human skin. They both act as antimicrobials that kill the microbes that cause infection, and contain many of the same ingredients. Disinfectant usually comes in liquid form or in a spray, whereas antiseptic is usually in the form of an ointment.
Objectives
To be able the students to differentiate and observe what the branded antiseptics and disinfectants can do.
Methodology
Materials and Procedures In order to start the activity, we cooked agar where we cultivated the bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermis). After plating and cooling the agar inside the petri dish, we foreplate the bacteria by using a cotton swab. We prepared two (2) petri dishes. One is for the bacteria and the other one is by swabbing the cotton swab to any surface and then foreplated inside the petri dish. After foreplating, the prepared filter paper chips are dipped into different antiseptics and disinfectants that are commercially sold. After one day, we checked the diameter of the bacterial inhibition in different antiseptics and disinfectants used.
Results and Discussion
Chemicals used
Petri dish 1
Petri dish 2
A1
0
A2
19
A3
6
A4
18
D1
11
D2
17
D3
30
D4
0
Control
0
0
As we can see with the results gathered, some antiseptic and disinfectant products
Introduction
Antiseptics and disinfectants are extensively used in hospitals and other health care settings for a variety of topical and hard-surface applications. A wide variety of active chemical agents (biocides) are found in these products, many of which have been used for hundreds of years, including alcohols, phenols, iodine, and chlorine. Most of these active agents demonstrate broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity; however, little is known about the mode of action of these agents in comparison to antibiotics. The main differences between antiseptics and disinfectants are that disinfectants are used primarily to sanitize objects, and antiseptics are used on human skin. They both act as antimicrobials that kill the microbes that cause infection, and contain many of the same ingredients. Disinfectant usually comes in liquid form or in a spray, whereas antiseptic is usually in the form of an ointment.
Objectives
To be able the students to differentiate and observe what the branded antiseptics and disinfectants can do.
Methodology
Materials and Procedures In order to start the activity, we cooked agar where we cultivated the bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermis). After plating and cooling the agar inside the petri dish, we foreplate the bacteria by using a cotton swab. We prepared two (2) petri dishes. One is for the bacteria and the other one is by swabbing the cotton swab to any surface and then foreplated inside the petri dish. After foreplating, the prepared filter paper chips are dipped into different antiseptics and disinfectants that are commercially sold. After one day, we checked the diameter of the bacterial inhibition in different antiseptics and disinfectants used.
Results and Discussion
Chemicals used
Petri dish 1
Petri dish 2
A1
0
A2
19
A3
6
A4
18
D1
11
D2
17
D3
30
D4
0
Control
0
0
As we can see with the results gathered, some antiseptic and disinfectant products
References: http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/25040909?uid=2&uid=4&sid=21102564160 http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Guthrie 's+bacterial+inhibition+assay