Selection and Use of Disinfectants (Dee Griffin's Notes, 1998) - gpvec

4/9/2010 

Selection and Use of Disinfectants 

(Dee Griffin's Notes, 1998) 

Definitions: 

Antiseptic - chemicals used to inhibit or prevent the growth of microbes on living tissue 

Disinfectant - chemicals used to inhibit or prevent the growth of microbes on inanimate objects 

Sanitize - reduce the number of microbes to a safe level 

Sterilize - eliminate all microbes (inactivates or kills) 

Bactericide - kills bacteria 

Fungicide - kills fungi 

Viricide - kills virus (enveloped/lipophilic are typically easier to kill than non-enveloped viruses) 

Sporicide - kill spores (fungi and bacteria) 

Biocide - kills living organisms 

Bacteriostat - inhibits the growth of bacteria 

Detergent - contains free ions (leaves film on surface) 

Anionic Detergent - (soaps) have free negative ions that produce curd when combined with Ca & Mg in hard water 

Cationic Detergent - QA contains positively charged ions which remain suspended in solution 

Selection: 

Usually disinfectants are "cidal" in that they kill the susceptible potential pathogenic agents. The selection of a 

disinfectant should be based on the job you expect the disinfectant to do not necessarily on a sales pitch, or on what 

we have always used. Ideally select a disinfectant that is broad spectrum (eliminate bacteria, viruses, protozoa, 

fungi, & spores) and is non-irritating, non-toxic, non-corrosive and inexpensive. Selection decisions should include 

effectiveness against the potential pathogenic agent, safety to people/animals, impact on equipment and the 

environment., and expense. 

Disinfectant effectiveness upon many factors. These include: 

1. Type of contaminating microorganism .. each disinfectant has unique anti-microbial attributes 

2. Degree of contamination .. this affects the time required for disinfection and the amount of chemical 

required 

3. Amount of protein-containing material present .. protein based materials absorb and inactivate some 

chemical disinfectants 

4. Type of chemical .. it is important to understand the mode of action in order to select the appropriate 

disinfectant 

5. Concentration and quantity of chemical .. it is important to choose the proper concentration and quantity 

of chemical that are best used for the disinfection of each situation. 

6. Contact time .. sufficient time which is proportional to the degree of contamination must be allowed for 

action of the disinfectant to work 

7. Application temperature, pH and interactions with other compounds must be considered 

Summary: 

1) Efficacy (killing efficiency against viruses, bacteria, fungi) 

2) Activity with organic matter and other compounds such as soaps 

3) Toxicity (relative safety to animals) 

4) Residual Activity 

5) Effect on fabric and metals 

6) Solubility (acidity, alkalinity, pH) 

7) Contact time 

8) Temperature 

9) Cost 

Types of Disinfectants Considered 

Chlorine Iodophors Chlorhexidine Alcohols 

Peroxides Phenols Quaternary ammonia Aldehydes 

DisinfectantSelection.doc 

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Hypochlorites: 

Chlorine disinfectants as well as iodine disinfectants belong to the group of halogens. Chlorine eliminates both 

enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. Chlorine is also effective against fungi, bacteria, and algae. Chlorine is not 

effective against spores. Household bleach ( 5.25% NaClO ), a common source, is cheap and readily available. It 

is typically diluted using 1:128 to 1:32 with water (1/8 to1/2 cup per gallon of water). 

Chlorine disinfectants are corrosive to metals and cause deterioration of fabrics. Chlorine in high concentrations is 

irritating to the mucus membranes, eyes, and skin. Organic material such as feces inactivate chlorine disinfectants 

therefore surfaces must be clean be for using a chlorine disinfectant. In order to obtain maximum results with 

chlorine disinfectants they must remain in contact with surfaces for several minutes. The pH of the water used for 

dilution should be between 6 to 8 to be effective. The effectiveness decreases when application temperatures are 

below 65 degrees. Decreasing the temperature to 50 degrees cuts the effectiveness in half. Chlorination of drinking 

water for cattle should not exceed 6 to10ppm. Use the lower value in continuous flow or low volume reservoir 

systems. 

Summary: 1) Provide wide germicidal activity and are relative non-toxic 

2) Limited activity when in the presence of organic matter 

3) Poor residual activity and corrosive 

4) Fair effectiveness as sporicidal agents 

5) Effective at low concentrations for disinfecting clean, small objects 

6) Low cost but requires frequent applications 

Iodine and iodophor disinfectants: 

Iodine and iodophors are simply chemical compounds. These compounds can be included in a time release 

formulation and with soaps (surgical scrubs). Simple iodine tinctures (iodine + R-OH) do not contain a cleaning 

compound. Iodine and iodophors are bactericidal, sporicidal, virucidal and fungicidal. Iodine like chlorine is 

inactivated in the presence of organic material and to thoroughly disinfect they must be applied multiple times. 

Iodine tinctures can be very irritating to tissues, stain fabric and corrosive. "Tamed" iodines such as surgical scrubs 

and surgical disinfectants are generally not irritating to tissues. Tamed iodines include: Betadyne, Povidone, 

Wescodyne, Virac, and Prepodyne. Others include: One Step & Iosan. 

4/9/2010 

Summary: 1) Provide wide germicidal activity and are relative non-toxic 

2) Limited activity when in the presence of organic matter 

3) Poor residual activity, corrosive and stain fabric and equipment 

4) Fair effectiveness as sporocidal agents but better than chlorine 



Chlorhexidine: 

Chlorhexidine, a biguanide, is one the more widely used disinfectants. Chlorhexidine is relatively non-irritation to 

tissues. Chlorhexidine, while considered bactericidal, virucidal, & fungicidal, is less effective against these agents 

than many other disinfectants. Chlorhexidine maintains effectiveness in the presence of some organic material but 

cleaning before application is recommended. To be effective chlorhexidine must remain in contact with the surface 

for not less than five minutes. Hard or alkaline water will cause precipitation of the active ingredients necessary for 

disinfection. Chlorhexidine disinfectants include: Nolvasan, Chlorhex, Chlorasan, Virosan, Hibistat, Phisohex 

Summary: 1) Wide germicidal activity but ineffective against some important species) & non-toxic 

2) Some activity in the presence of organic matter 

3) Some residual activity but must be in contact for at least five minutes 

4) Fair effectiveness as sporicidal agents 



Alcohols: 

Alcohols are commonly used topical disinfectants. They effective against Gram + and Gram - bacteria, fungal 

spores, and enveloped viruses. Alcohols are not effective against bacterial spores and non-enveloped viruses. 

Alcohols require time to work and they do not penetrate organic material. Alcohol is not only irritating to tissues, the 

damage to proteins in open wounds may actually promote bacterial growth. To expensive for general use. 

Summary: 1) Wide germicidal activity, non corrosive, poses a fire hazard and irritating to tissues 

2) Limited activity in the presence of organic matter and limited residual activity. 

3) Not effective against bacterial or fungal spores 

4) Excellent when used at 70-95% concentration for disinfecting instruments, etc. 


2

Oxidizing Agents: 

Peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide are often used to clean wounds. The activity of peroxides is greatest against 

anaerobic bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide is not virucidal and in some cases are damaging to tissues, resulting in a 

prolonged healing time. Hydrogen peroxide is useful for cleaning surgical sites after closure but use sparingly to 

avoid penetration of suture lines and inhibiting healing. 

Blended and/or stabilized peroxides can be used for disinfection of equipment surfaces. Stabilized peroxides may 

be blended with iodophors or quaternary ammonia. Some products are effective against a much broader range of 

pathogens including both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, vegetative bacteria, fungi and bacterial spores. 

Examples include: Hyperox, VirkonS, 

4/9/2010 

Summary: 1) Moderate to wide germicidal activity, moderately corrosive and limited toxicity 

2) Rendered ineffective in the presence of organic matter 

3) Poor to limited residual activity 

4) Not effective against bacterial or fungal spores 

5) More valuable as a cleansing and deodorizing agent and are only moderate cost. 

Phenolic disinfectants: 

Commonly found in mouth washes, scrub soaps and surface disinfectants, and are the main disinfectant found in 

household disinfectants. Phenols are effective against bacteria (especially gram positive bacteria) and enveloped 

viruses. Phenols are not effective against non-enveloped viruses and spores. Enveloped viruses include: BRS, 

BVD, Coronavirus, IBR, Leukemia, PI3, Pox, Rabies and Stomatitis virus. Non-enveloped viruses include: 

Bluetongue, Papilloma, Parvo, Rota virus. Common spore forming bacteria of cattle include all the clostridia's (such 

as tetanus) and bacillus (such as anthrax). 

Phenols maintain their activity in the presence of organic material therefore are more useful in foot baths and areas 

which organic material can not be completely removed. Phenolic disinfectants (including cresols and pine oil) are 

generally safe but prolonged exposure to the skin may cause irritation. Phenolic disinfectants include: O-Syl, Matar, 

Septicol, Hexachlorophene, Environ, One-Stroke, Lysovet, Tek-Trol, Lysol, Pantek, Discan, Pine-sol, and Staphene. 

Summary: 1) Wide germicidal range and relatively non-corrosive and limited toxicity 

2) Very effective in the presence of organic matter 

3) Poor to limited residual activity 

4) Not sporicidal 

5) Typically effective as a deodorizer and are of low to moderate cost. 

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: 

Quaternary ammonium (QA) disinfectant contain NH4. The labels often list a form of ammonium chloride (AC) such 

as alkyl aryl, benzyl, didecyl, dimethyl, ethylbenzyl, octyl or a combination of different AC. Benziconium chloride 

(BC) is a more tissue friendly QA than AC. QA disinfectants are effective against Gram + and Gram - bacteria, & 

enveloped viruses. They are not effective against non-enveloped viruses, fungi, and bacterial spores. QA 

compounds bind to organic material including soaps so the area to be disinfected clean and rinsed of soap. 

Extremely hard water also deactivates QA disinfectants QA compounds are generally low in toxicity but prolonged 

contact can be irritating. QA disinfectants include: Roccal, Quats, Lysoquat, Multi-Quat, TKO, Utmost and Zephiran. 

Summary: 1) Wide germicidal range, non-corrosive and low toxicity 

2) Reduced efficiency and residual activity in the presence of organic matter 

3) Not sporicidal, effective against vegetative bacteria, fungi and viruses 

4) Limited effectiveness in soaps, detergents and hard water salts 

5) Good disinfectant for use on cleaned surfaces and low cost 

Aldehydes: 

Aldehydes are have a wide germicidal spectrum. Glutaraldehyde are bactericidal, viricidal, fungicidal and sporicidal. 

They have a moderated residual activity and are effective in the presents of moderate organic material. 

Glutaraldehyde disinfectants include: Lysofume and Wavicide-I / Wavicide-06. Formaldehydes are very potent 

disinfectants, but can be highly toxic to people and animals. Use them only as a last resort and then under trained 

supervision in a well ventilated setting. 

Summary: 1) Wide germicidal activity, sporicidal and fungicidal, but moderately toxic 

2) Slight to moderate efficiency in presence of organic matter 

3) Slight residual activity 

4) Most of these products are moderately expensive. 


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Disinfectant Selection Table 

Compound 

Examples 

Bactericidal 

4/9/2010 

Chlorine 

0.01-5% 

Clorox 

Good 

Viricidal Very Good 

Envelope 

Viruses Yes 

Non-Envelope 

Viruses Yes 

Bacterial 

Spores Fair 

Fungicidal 

Effective in 

Organic Matter 

Inactivated 

by soap 

Effective in 

Hard water 

Contact 

Time (minutes) 

Residual 

activity 

Good 

Poor 

No 

Yes 

5-30 

Poor 

Iodine 

Iodophor 

0.5-5% 

Tincture / 

Provodine 

Good 

Good 

Yes 

Yes 

Fair 

Good 

Fair 

No &Yes 

No 

10-30 

Poor 

Chlorhexidine 

0.05-0.5% 

Novalsan 

Very Good 

Very Good 

Yes 

No 

Poor 

Fair to Good 

Fair 

No 

Yes 

5-10 

Good 


4 

Alcohol 

70-95% 

Good 

Good 

Yes 

No 

Fair 

Fair 

Fair 

No 

Yes 

10-30 

Fair 

Oxidizing 

0.2-3% 

VikronS 

Good 

Good 

Yes 

Yes 

Fair-Good 

Fair 

Poor 

No 

Yes 

10-30 

Poor 

Phenol 

0.2-3% 

Lysol 

Good 

Fair 

Yes 

No 

Poor 

Good 

Good 

No 

Yes 

10-30 

Poor 

Quaternary 

Ammonium 

0.1-2% 

Roccal-D 

Good 

Fair 

Yes 

No 

Poor 

Fair 

Fair 

Yes 

No 

10-30 

Fair 

Aldehyde 

1-2% 

Wavicide 

Very Good 

Very Good 

Yes 

Yes 

Good 

Good 

Good 

No 

Yes 

10-600 

Cattle Viruses With & Without Viral Envelopes 

Virus Envelope Virus Envelope Virus Envelope 

Bluetongue No Malignant Catarrhal Fever Yes PI3 Yes 

Rotavirus No Enteric Coronavirus Yes Rabies Yes 

Papillomatosis No Resp Coronavirus Yes Herpes Mammillitis Yes 

Leukemia Yes BVD Yes Cowpox Yes 

Papular Stomatitis Yes BRSV Yes Pseudocowpox Yes 

Vesicular Stomatitis Yes IBR / IPV Yes Lumpy Skin Disease Yes 

Note: Foot & Mouth Disease (an Aphthovirus) is a Non-Enveloped RNA virus. 

BSE Prion denatured by 5.25% Na Hypochlorite & 275º (F) at 48.5 lbs pressure for 20 minutes. 

References: 

Bayley, A.J. Compendium of Veterinary Products. 1997. 

Gardner, J.F. Antiseptics and Disinfectants. 1993 

Hanel, E. Liquid Chemical Germicides. 1989. 

Jeffrey, Joan. Sanitation-Disinfection Basics. 1998. 

Kennedy, Jim and Joe Bek. Class notes. NCTA 1998. 

McCluggage, Dave. A practical guide to disinfectants. 1991. 

Mohanty, S.B. Veterinary Virology. 1981. 

Perino, L.J. Personal communication on viral classification, 1998. 

Fair

4/9/2010 

DISINFECTANTS and ANTISEPTICS 

Disinfectant List 


5 

Active 

Ingred 

% 

Conc 

Suppliers 

CHLORHEXIDINE DISINFECTANTS 

ChlorhexiDerm Disinfectant CHXD 2 .DVM 

Chlorhexidine Disinfectant Solution CHXD 2 .AgriLabs 

Chlorhexidine Solution CHXD 2 .Butler, Durvet, First Priority, Vedco 

Nolvasan -S CHXD 2 .Fort Dodge 

Nolvasan Solution CHXD 2 .Fort Dodge 

FORMALDEHYDE DISINFECTANTS FMDH 

Formaldehyde Solution 37% FMDH 37 .Butler 

Vinco Formaldegen FMDH 91 .Vineland 

Vinco Formaldehyde Solution FMDH 37 .Vineland 

Vinco Sani-Squad FMDH 27 .Vineland 

IODINE COMPLEX DISINFECTANTS 

Bactrol IODN ? .AgriLabs 

Dineotex IODN 18 .Stearns 

Gentle Iodine Wound Spray IODN 3 .First Priority 

Interdyne IODN 2 .Intercon 

Iodine Tincture 7% IODN 7 .First Priority 

Iofec -20 Disinfectant IODN 2 .Loveland 

Iosan IODN 2 .WestAgro 

Magna Din-15 IODN 2 .Magna 

Metz Iodine Detergent IODN 18 .Metz 

One Step IODN 2 .Chem-Tronics, Vedco 

Povidine Solution IODN 1 .Butler, First Priority 

PVP Iodine IODN 10 .Western Chemical 

R.I.D. Russell Iodine Disinfectant IODN 2 .Russell 

Rocadyne IODN 18 .Rochester Midland 

Sungro Dairy & Livestock Disinfectant IODN 2 .Sungro 

VPL Xenodine, Spray IODN 1 .V.P.L. 

West-Vet Premise Disinfectant IODN 18 .WestAgro 

ALCOHOL DISINFECTANTS 

Blue Lotion Topical Antiseptic (+BC-0.5) ROH 13 .First Priority 

Cavicide (DBAC 2) ROH 19 .Metrex 

DC&R Disinfectant ( + formaldehyde) ROH 19+2 .Loveland 

Isopropyl Alcohol 70% ROH 70 .Chem-Tronics, First Priority, RXV, Vedco 

Isopropyl Alcohol 99% ROH 99 .AgriPharm, Chem-T, FP,RXV,Vedco 

Kleen-Aseptic (+DBAC-0.3) ROH 14 .Metrex 

Medicide (POL-0.3) ROH 52 .Hysan 

Microban X-580 BLEND 25 .Microban 

PHENOLIC DISINFECTANTS 

25-Pines POIL .Stearns 

Beaucoup PHOL 9 .Ecolab

Big Pine (includes a QA) POIL ? .Intercon 

Discan -256 PHOL 18 .Loveland 

FPD 256 PHOL 22 .AgriLabs 

Lysol I.C. Disinfectant, Spray, & Presoak PHOL 15 .R & C ProBrands 

Magna CP-1 (+cresol-31) PHOL 24 .Magna 

Magna Phen-100 PHOL 29 .Magna 

Magna Clean CRSOL .Magna 

Matar PHOL 18 .Ecolab 

Pantek Cleanser PHOL 50 .Loveland 

Pine-Sol POIL 18 

Tek-Trol PHOL 26 .AgriLabs, Bio-Tek 

Tri-Phenol-R/256 PHOL 21 .Russell 

VPL SynPhenol-3 PHOL 26 .V.P.L. 

QUATERNARY AMMONIUM DISINFECT.. 

(MOST CONTAIN DBAC, DDAC, &/OR DEAC) 

Airx 44 Plus and Airx 78 Plus D-AC 4-7 .Chemifax) 

Ascend D-AC 15 .Ecolab 

Bacto-Sep D-AC 7.5 .Interchem 

Benzalkonium Chloride 50% BC 50 .Argent 

CarraVet Antiseptic Wound Cleanser BC ? .V.P.L. 

CAS-5 D-AC 8 .Magna 

Cide-All D-AC 4 .Chemifax 

D-128 and D-256 D-AC 7/15 .Vedco 

Dakil D-AC 12 .Davis 

Di-Quat 10-S D-AC 10 .Butler 

Disintegrator D-AC 15 .Phoenix 

F-48 D-AC 8 .Rochester Midland 

FSD-4 D-AC 3 .DuBois 

GermKill 256 D-AC 15 .Loveland 

Hi-Tor Plus D-AC 15 .Ecolab 

KennelSol QA ? .Alpha Tech Pet 

LDC-19 D-AC 2 .Intercon 

Lifegard 256 Plus D-AC 15 .Rochester Midland 

Lysol I.C. Quaternary Cleanr/Disinfect.. QA ? .R & C ProBrands 

Magna Non-Chlorinated Foam Hatch AAAC ? .Magna 

Magna Q-20, Q-25 and Q-43 D-AC 10-22 .Magna 

Magna Q-Detergent QA ? .Magna 

Marcicide II D-AC 2 .M.A.R.C. 

Mint Disinfectant QA ? .Air-Tite 

Multi-Purpose Disinfectant D-AC ? .LeGear 

Multi-Quat 128 D-AC 7.6 .Intercon 

Neu-Quat 64 D-AC 3.8 .Hysan 

P-128 QA .First Priority 

Parvo Plus 4X D-AC 15 .Butler 

Parvosol D-AC 4.8 .KenVet 

Purina Annihilator CD D-AC 15 .Purina Mills 

Purina Disinfectant and Concentrate 4x D-AC 6/23 .Purina Mills 

Q-128 D-AC 7.6 .Chem-Tronics 

Q-Cide D-AC 7.6 .Ecolab 

QD-4 D-AC 5.6 .DuBois 

4/9/2010 


6

Quanto D-AC 7.6 .Ecolab 

Quatamine D-AC 10 .Stearns 

Quat-A-Mone D-AC 20 .Russell 

Roccal -D & Roccal-D Plus D-AC 20 .Pharmacia & Upjohn 

Russell/Dual Chain D-AC 20 .Russell 

Steramine Disinfectant D-AC 10 .Stearns 

Sunkleen 45 and Sunkleen 90 D-AC 4.5/9 .Sungro 

Tetra San II D-AC 10 .Alex C. Fergusson 

T K O Detergent Sanitizer D-AC 4.5 .Uncle Sam 

Tor II D-AC 3 .Ecolab 

Tryad D-AC 5 .Loveland 

Utmost 256 D-AC 15 .RXV 

Veterinarian Disinfectant D-AC 9 .Pettec 

Vigilquat D-AC 4 .Alex C. Fergusson 

VPL Parvo-Cide 2 D-AC 4.6 .V.P.L. 

V.T.D. D-AC 4.5 .Interchem 

GLUTARALDEHYDE DISINFECTANTS 

Aldacide 200 GDH 20 .Russell 

Lysofume GDH 

Wavicide GDH 

CHLORINE DISINFECTANTS 

Hypo-Chlor Formula 6.40 NACLO 6.4 .Stearns 

Lifegard 830F NACLO ? .Rochester Midland 

Lifegard CIP-Plus & HD P+NACLO ? .Rochester Midland 

OXIDIZING DISINFECTANTS 

Hydrogen Peroxide 3% Solution OXIDZ 3 .First Priority 

Lifegard 800 OXIDZ ? .Rochester Midland 

Lifegard 820 OXIDZ ? .Rochester Midland 

Lifegard 888F OXIDZ ? .Rochester Midland 

Lifegard CIP-HD OXIDZ ? .Rochester Midland 

Lifegard Cleen Sheen OXIDZ ? .Rochester Midland 

Virkon S OXIDZ 20 .Durvet 

OTHER DISINFECTANTS 

Lifegard 7000 PO4A .Rochester Midland 

Lifegard 7500F PO4A .Rochester Midland 

Lifegard 7700 PO4A .Rochester Midland 

Super Clean-R 500 NMSIL .Russell 

Vinco Potassium Permanganate KPM .Vineland 

Clinafarm EC IMTZ .Schering Plough 

Lifegard Plasti-Safe SALT .Rochester Midland 

Lifegard 7300 CITA .Rochester Midland 

Magna P-Detergent SOAP .Magna 

4/9/2010 


7

Selection and Use of Disinfectants (Dee Griffin's Notes, 1998) - gpvec

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