Disinfection

Disinfection (decontamination) is a procedure aimed at the destruction of microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, especially pathogenic ones. Disinfecting a material is not the same as sterilizing it – it means that disinfection removes microorganisms but does not always remove their spore forms. Objects and surfaces that may be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites) are disinfected.

What is disinfection?

Disinfection is a process aimed at reducing the microorganisms present in a given material. Contrary to appearances, it does not consist in removing all microorganisms in it – during disinfection, the amount of harmful bacteria is limited so that they do not pose a threat to health. Thanks to disinfectants, it is possible to remove fungi, bacteria, viruses and parasites present both on the skin and on objects.

What is the difference between disinfecting and sanitizing?

Disinfection differs from disinfection in the amount of destroyed microorganisms. During disinfection it is possible to eliminate almost all bacteria, and during disinfection only some of them. Secondly, disinfection is often more targeted and may, for example, be aimed at removing viruses from a specific disease. Thirdly – disinfection is also carried out preventively, e.g. in the kitchen, bathroom or swimming pool.

What are the disinfection methods?

There are three disinfection methods which are:

1. physical disinfection – cleans an object with steam at a temperature of 100 to 105 degrees Celsius. Steam can be at reduced or normal pressure – in the latter case, it is used to disinfect sanitary equipment and equipment. Another method of physical disinfection is UV radiation, which is used to clean entire rooms and flat surfaces.
2. chemical disinfection – involves the removal of microorganisms with the use of chemicals, e.g. quaternary ammonium salts, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, aldehydes, formaldehydes, glutaraldehyde, phenols (cresol, resorcinol, biguanides, chlordexidine), heavy metals (including silver compounds, copper and mercury), rivanol, hydrogen peroxide, permanganates and soap.
3. thermal-chemical disinfection – involves the simultaneous use of chemicals in lower concentrations. It is used to clean equipment that does not tolerate high temperature. When using this method of disinfection, the above-mentioned chemical methods and additional high temperature effects are used – thermal-chemical disinfection is, for example, boiling or scalded with boiling water. 

We recommend the Spray for surface disinfection – 75% alcohol by Naturaphy.

What are the disinfection methods for wounds and cuts?

Disinfecting wounds and cuts is necessary to prevent inflammation in the wounded area, slowing down the healing process. In extreme cases, an uninfected wound may show, for example, an abscess, gas gangrene or tetanus. Wound disinfectants should be considered the basic element of home first aid equipment. They are needed not only when disinfecting wounds, but also when changing the dressing.

The most commonly used means for disinfecting wounds and cuts are:

1. hydrogen peroxide – this is the most popular wound disinfectant. In fact, it is not as effective as it may seem, since it has a weak bactericidal effect. It is true that it destroys strains of bacteria and viruses, but to a slight extent and additionally may have a negative effect on the wound healing process. Hydrogen peroxide is suitable for disinfecting small abrasions, cleaning them from dirt and dead cells.
2. salicylic alcohol – wound disinfection with alcohol is the oldest method of wound disinfection. Spirit is bactericidal, but should only be used to disinfect skin that is undamaged or to disinfect surfaces. Spirit is highly irritating and after washing an open wound with it, it damages proteins – and at the same time causes pain and penetrates into the bloodstream.
3. iodine – it is used to disinfect wounds and abrasions on the skin, but it causes pain and severe irritation. It can also be used as an operating field disinfectant. Iodine is recommended to be used primarily for disinfecting minor wounds, as long as the injured person is not hypersensitive to any of its ingredients. Iodine should not be used in children under 3 years of age.
4. potassium permanganate – is a disinfectant used to treat dermatological conditions, including eczema, blisters on the skin, fungal infections and cleansing the skin of ulcers or abscesses. It is an oxidant with both disinfecting and astringent properties. When it is raw, it is odorless and dark purple in color. The most common form of potassium permanganate is granular powder.
5. gentian – its most important active ingredient is methyl rosaniline chloride and is available in water and spirit versions. The water solution is used to disinfect each tissue, and the spirit solution is used for purulent wounds and the skin. Under no circumstances should a gentian wash her eyes. It is safe for pregnant women and does not affect the child’s development, although when used on animals it may be carcinogenic and mutagenic.
6. ocetnisept – is one of the most popular disinfectants used in, among others, in hospitals, vaccination centers and gynecological offices. Ocetnisept contains phenoxyethanol, an ingredient that is very popular in cosmetics – it is worth knowing that long-term exposure to it can be harmful. Do not inject the octenisept under pressure – it’s best to gently dip a cotton ball in it and wipe the area where you want to disinfect.  

The simplest method of disinfecting wounds, when disinfectants are not available, is to rinse the wound with water. You can also use a saline solution. However, even if it is possible to use one of the disinfectants mentioned, the first thing to do is to wash the wound with water or saline solution. Instead of one of the wound fluids, you can use, for example, an antibacterial dressing.

It is recommended that small wounds, i.e. those that do not require suturing, should be washed with plenty of water or water with the addition of gray soap. For wound disinfection, it is also worth using antiseptic drugs – they can be used both immediately after the wound is formed and later, when it should be washed before changing the dressing. This will reduce the risk of infection. Moreover, the wound will keep moist and heal faster.

What determines the effectiveness of disinfection

Effectiveness disinfection it depends on what microorganisms we are dealing with and what is their number and physiological activity. Depending on these factors and what surface we want to treat disinfection (whether it is a usable surface or a body surface, for example), use an appropriate one decontamination methods. The duration of action of the disinfectant, its concentration and type are important. Additionally, factors such as air temperature and humidity as well as the pH level and, for example, the subject of the treatment should be taken into account disinfection organic matter is present on the surface.

For hand disinfection, we recommend Naturaphy Antibacterial Hand Sanitiser Gel, which can be purchased at Medonet Market in four fragrances:

1. olive,
2. lavender,
3. forest fruit,
4. melon.

Which of the methods of wound disinfection is the most effective?

One of the most frequently recommended methods of wound disinfection is the use of bactericides, fungicides and virucides with octenidine and phenoxyethanol. Iodine preparations are also helpful, but they should not be used simultaneously with silver dressings. It is worth knowing that they are also not intended for people who are allergic to these ingredients and people with thyroid problems.

Hand disinfection – which preparations to use and how to use them?

For hand disinfection, antibacterial preparations, such as gels or foams, are used. In addition to them, you can also use alcohol wipes. For effective removal of bacteria, the preparation should contain ethyl or isopropyl alcohol or n-propanol. The concentration of such alcohols should be between 60 and 80 percent. Contrary to appearances, a higher concentration does not mean that the agent will be more effective.

You should start disinfecting your hands with washing and drying them. Then apply a disinfectant to cover the surface of the skin and rub it both on the inside and back of the hand and into the space between the fingers. If the preparation remains on the skin after rubbing, do not wipe it off and let it dry.

The ineffectiveness of the preparation for disinfecting hands may result from too rare washing of hands. When the hands are not washed thoroughly, they contain more microbes. Jewelry and too long and painted nails can also be an obstacle – they also hide bacteria underneath them. Therefore, before applying any disinfecting preparation, it is worth remembering about proper hand hygiene.

Is soap and water enough for hand disinfection?

Soapy water only removes some pathogens from the hands and is not as effective as preparations containing alcohol or alcohol mixtures. Alcohol-based antibacterial fluids remove, for example, gram-positive, negative, and many viruses. Soapy water, although it removes grease, organic substances and dirt, has a limited effect, but is still able to remove bacterial flora, although only loosely adhering to the skin.

Disinfecting the apartment – how to do it?

One of the methods of disinfecting the apartment is ozonation. Ozone is an oxygen molecule. One of its atoms can detach and react with other compounds and break down other substances. Being reactive, it can effectively disinfect odors, but if not used with care, it will damage your lungs or skin. The main purpose of ozone treatment is to remove unpleasant odors.

The apartment can also be disinfected without the help of specialists. For this, you can both buy apartment disinfectants, and make them yourself. When it comes to natural cleaning products, one of them is vinegar, which, thanks to the fact that it contains acetic acid, is able to effectively eliminate dirt and germs from countertops, sinks and bathroom fittings – its effectiveness is estimated at up to 80%. Tea tree, lemon, clove, lavender or thyme oils can also be used to disinfect the apartment.

However, it is worth knowing that disinfecting the apartment is not a routine care activity. It should only be done in special cases. Many chemical products available on the market are highly toxic and allergenic and their use in a household can cause a lot of damage – the substances contained in them can contaminate sewage and then plants.

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