What is the difference between antiseptics and disinfectants?

Antiseptics and disinfectants are used to kill or reduce the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. The key difference between them is where they are used. Antiseptics are used on exposed parts of the body, often, but not always, at the point of wound or surgical section to prevent infection. Disinfectants are used on other surfaces, from the surfaces of the operating room to the kitchen counters to destroy potentially dangerous microbes.

The use of both antiseptics and disinfectants is a relatively recent supplement to medical practice. The miasmatic theory of the disease that claimed that the disease was caused by environmental effects rather than microorganisms, remained widely accepted until the mid -19th century. The medical facility has shown that it is reluctant to change standard procedures, even as a result of stunning experimental evidence.

The first pioneers in the research of antiseptics and disinfectants such as Jeignaz Semmelweis who studiedMortality between mothers treated without proper antiseptic procedures, quickly noted that the basic sanitary preventive measures significantly reduced many risks associated with medical treatment. Although doctors slowly accepted his advice, his opinion eventually won. Joseph Lister became the most successful supporter of the use of antiseptics and disinfectants, and his work was sufficient to gradually shift standard medical practice.

Antiseptics and disinfectants work to kill microbes, but the antiseptics must also cause little or no damage to the body tissues. Hydrogen and alcohol peroxide is one of the most common antiseptics used in medical and home applications. They are usually used to clean the skin before cutting to remove any potentially dangerous microbes on the skin surface. Antiseptics can also be used to treat supercuts or abrasions kill all micrOBY that could already enter the wound, although this process can slightly damage the tissue and also cause discomfort.

disinfectant, unlike antiseptics, may not be safe for use on living tissue. Many common household substances have excellent disinfectants. The simple bleach solution is very effective in killing most microbes and bleach is widely used for this purpose, both in healthcare facilities and in common home applications. Using a chemical agent as a disinfectant is not desirable, there are other options, including the use of ultraviolet light or radiation, which are generally unsuitable for use on living tissue, but can be very effective in eliminating microbes.