Knowra Glutaraldehyde Glutaraldehyde Glutaraldehyde is a reactive five-carbon dialdehyde used to disinfect and sterilize heat-sensitive equipment and to cross-link biological tissues and materials.
Aldehyde : An organic functional group containing a carbonyl bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. Glutaraldehyde has two aldehyde groups that react with nucleophilic sites in proteins.
High-level disinfection : A disinfection process that eliminates nearly all microorganisms, though it may not reliably destroy large numbers of bacterial spores. Glutaraldehyde is used for high-level disinfection of heat-sensitive medical equipment.
Ortho-phthalaldehyde : A dialdehyde disinfectant used for high-level disinfection of heat-sensitive medical instruments. It is an alternative to glutaraldehyde, often with different exposure, odor, and material-compatibility profiles.
Occupational asthma : Asthma caused or worsened by exposures encountered in the workplace. Repeated exposure to glutaraldehyde vapor can cause or aggravate occupational asthma.
Protein cross-linking : The formation of chemical bonds between separate protein molecules or regions of a protein. Glutaraldehyde forms covalent links between proteins, stabilizing tissue and biomolecular structures.
Cold sterilization : Chemical treatment intended to sterilize heat-sensitive items without using elevated temperatures. Glutaraldehyde solutions have been used to sterilize instruments that cannot tolerate heat.
Formaldehyde : A one-carbon aldehyde used in chemical manufacturing, preservation, and disinfection. Both aldehydes can fix biological material, but formaldehyde is smaller and has distinct hazards and reaction behavior.
Contact dermatitis : Inflammation of the skin caused by direct contact with an irritant or allergen. Glutaraldehyde can irritate skin and cause allergic sensitization in exposed workers.
Schiff base : A compound containing a carbon–nitrogen double bond, commonly formed when a primary amine reacts with a carbonyl compound. Amine reactions with glutaraldehyde can form imine linkages during protein fixation.
Endoscope reprocessing : The cleaning, disinfection, rinsing, and handling of reusable endoscopes between procedures. Glutaraldehyde has been used to disinfect flexible endoscopes after thorough cleaning.
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