Antiseptics and disinfectants. Current issues

B Terleckyj Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.

Search for other papers by B Terleckyj in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
EC Elsinger Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.

Search for other papers by EC Elsinger in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
DA Axler Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.

Search for other papers by DA Axler in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

The authors address current issues regarding use of antiseptics and disinfectants with particular emphasis on the problems associated with claims made by manufacturers of various chemical agents. Other issues include the efficacy and limitations of commercial products, selecting the most appropriate formulation for proper disinfection, especially with instruments that come in contact with the patient, and preventing or minimizing iatrogenic infections in clinical practices. The authors stress that low-level and some intermediate-level disinfectants are unreliable because of their narrow safety margin and that chemical agents with a high level of activity should be used by all practitioners because of multi-drug resistant microorganisms and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Save