Antiseptics and disinfectants

Name MOA Uses Side effect

Oxidising agents- They act by Cleaning wounds
hydrogen peroxide, releasing nasecent and abscess cavity
peracetic acid oxygen which
oxidise bacterial
protoplasm
Alcohols- ethanol, Denature bacterial Antiseptic on skin CONTRA- not used on
isopropanol protein and before giving open wounds, muscosa,
precipitate them injections ulcer= highly irritant
Phenol derivates- Disrupt cell wall, For utensils,, Accidental or suicidal
Phenol,cresol protoplasmic excreta and ingestion= corrosion of
posions glassware GI tract, hypothermia
and collapse
Biguandines- Disrupts cell
cholorhexidine membrane and
denatures
bacterial proteins
Quaternery Disrupt cellular
ammonium and intracellular
compound- membranes
cetrimide
Aldehydes- Alkylating of a Disinfections of
formaldehyde chemical group in organic waste,
proteins and hospital walls,
nucleic acid membranes in
dialysis equipment
Acids- boric acid Systemic
absorption=pain,
diarrhoea, vomiting,
visual disturbacnes
Antiseptic on
Heavy metals- burns, for removal
silver compounds- of warts and oral
silver nitrate ulcers
Antistrigent and
antiseptic
Halogens- iodine Oxidize microbial Antiseptic on skin CONTRA:Hypersenstivity
tinctures and protoplasm for wounds and
solution prior to sugery Not be used in
conjunction with iodine

Reaction with component of the cytoplasmic membrane= alcohols and surfactant

compounds
Denaturation of cellular protein- alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, oxidants
Reaction with thiol group of enzymes-heavy metal
Damage of RNA and DNA= aldehydes, oxidants,dye