Disinfectant

A chemical agent applied to nonliving surfaces to destroy microorganisms or reduce their numbers. Disinfectants differ from antiseptics, which are intended for living tissue.

Microbial inactivation: The loss of a microorganism’s ability to reproduce or cause infection. Disinfectants work by inactivating microbes on treated surfaces.
Surface disinfection: The treatment of inanimate surfaces to reduce or destroy microorganisms. This is the principal use that defines disinfectants.
Antiseptic: An antimicrobial substance formulated for application to living tissue. Unlike disinfectants, antiseptics are intended for skin or other living tissue.
Microorganism: An organism or biological entity too small to be seen clearly without magnification. Disinfectants target microorganisms, a broad group with differing vulnerabilities.
Healthcare-associated infection: An infection acquired during the provision of healthcare that was not present or incubating at its start. Reliable surface disinfection helps interrupt some routes of transmission in healthcare.
Cell membrane: A selectively permeable boundary that encloses a cell and regulates exchange with its surroundings. Some disinfectant ingredients disrupt microbial membranes, causing essential contents to leak.
Hospital disinfection: The use of antimicrobial procedures and products to control pathogens in healthcare facilities. Healthcare settings select disinfectants for equipment and surfaces exposed to infection risks.
Sterilization: A process that eliminates all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores. Disinfection does not necessarily destroy spores, so it is not equivalent to sterilization.
Bacterium: A single-celled prokaryotic organism without a membrane-bound nucleus. Bacteria are common disinfection targets, but their resistance varies by species and form.
Antimicrobial resistance: The ability of microorganisms to withstand exposure to substances that would normally inhibit or kill them. Repeated sublethal exposure to some biocides can select for reduced susceptibility or linked resistance traits.

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