The risk of infection for humans is very high. The risk of infection is especially high in the presence of an open wound, during surgery, and it is also not excluded by airborne droplets. Therefore, a set of measures is simply needed that are aimed at the destruction of infectious agents. In the modern world, disinfectants should be in every first aid kit, not just doctors. Timely assistance and disinfection can reduce the spread of infection at times or completely eliminate dangerous infection. Next, we will consider what modern disinfectants are currently used, their types, what requirements are imposed on them and in what cases they are prescribed.
What is disinfection and its methods
Timely disinfection can prevent and stop the development of many infections. So what does she represent? This is a series of activities that are carried out in order to destroy the pathogen and destroy toxins in the environment. Due to this, the number of microorganisms is significantly reduced to an acceptable level, but their incompletedestruction.
Disinfection happens:
- Prophylactic. This includes hand washing, daily cleaning using detergents and cleaning products. Preventive disinfection should be carried out daily.
- Current. It is carried out in medical institutions. Needed at the bedside to keep the infection from spreading.
- Final. Mandatory after recovery, death, isolation or hospitalization of the patient in order to disinfect the epidemiological focus from pathogens that are left to the sick.
There are several methods of disinfection:
- Mechanical. Deck removal.
- Physical. Treatment with UV lamps, boiling laundry, dishes and so on.
- Chemical. Use of disinfectant solutions.
- Combined. A combination of several methods.
- Biological. Products of biological origin are used.
Let's focus on the chemical method of disinfection. Consider what modern disinfectants are used.
Disinfectants
Chemical and physical agents that are used to destroy pathogens of human, animal and plant infectious diseases in the external environment are disinfectants.
They can be:
- In solution.
- Suspensions.
- As a powder granule.
- In tablet form.
Modern disinfectants most often represent a balanced ratio of several active substances, which makes it possible to achieve the maximum effect in relation to more resistant microorganisms and active ingredients. They intentionally change their properties.
Disinfectants aim to kill pathogens, but sterilization also kills spores.
Modern disinfectants used in medicine are highly bactericidal and safe for humans. Also, many of them can be used regularly as a detergent, due to their low toxicity.
A few words about physical methods of disinfection. These include:
- Sunshine.
- Drying.
- Water vapor.
- Boiling.
- Roasting and calcination. Burning.
- Ironing.
- UV irradiation.
However, chemical disinfectants are used much more often because they are more accessible than high temperatures. Not every item to be disinfected can withstand this heat.
Types of disinfectants and their purpose
There are several types of disinfectants depending on the main active ingredient.
- Chlorine-based products. Broad antimicrobial spectrum of action. Cause corrosion of metal surfaces, discoloration of fabrics.
- Hydrogen peroxide, peracids. Dont Haveodor, easily decomposed. The most environmentally friendly, low toxicity. Used to disinfect corrosion-resistant metals, glass, plastics.
- Based on aldehydes. Broad antimicrobial spectrum of action, including spores. Good penetrating ability, while not damaging fabrics, do not cause metal corrosion.
- Preparations based on phenols. Such products can create a residual film on disinfected surfaces.
- Alcohol based. The most popular skin antiseptics. Evaporate quickly and leave no residue. Alcohol-containing liquids are often used to decontaminate the skin for injections.
- Based on quaternary amines. It is used to disinfect surfaces and equipment. Low toxicity, not effective against pathogenic strains.
- Based on organic compounds. Used to disinfect hemodialysis systems.
- Means based on tertiary amines. Broad spectrum of antimicrobial action. Low toxicity and good cleaning properties.
- Products based on guanidines. Low toxicity allows their use in the food industry. Leaves a film that is not easy to remove from the surface.
- Combined disinfectants. Consist of several active active ingredients.
Features of modern disinfectants
Time does not stand still, and modern disinfectants are increasingly being improved. What are the features of the new generation? Let's highlight some of them:
- Broad spectrum and activity against viruses, fungi, bacteria.
- Efficiency of solutions. Thick consistency, diluted can be stored for a long time and used repeatedly.
- Easy to use and store.
- Have a low level of toxicity.
- Do not damage the surface and materials.
- Have additional properties: deodorizing and washing.
Modern disinfectants have a number of disadvantages:
- Not all drugs can kill spores.
- Poor effectiveness against some viruses.
- Organic contaminants can affect the effectiveness of the drug.
Requirements for modern disinfectants
There are a number of requirements for disinfectants currently in use:
- They should dissolve well in water.
- Cause the death of bacteria in a short time.
- Does not lose its effectiveness in the presence of organic matter.
- Have little or no toxicity to humans and animals.
- Do not damage the disinfected surface.
- Must not be flammable or explosive.
- Do not have a strong odor.
- Must be easy to prepare and use.
Modern medical disinfectants
Currently in medicine, drugs are used for disinfection of a wide spectrum of action,which are effective against bacteria, viruses, spores, pathogenic fungi. These are both detergents and disinfectants. Many of them can be used repeatedly. Here are the names of some of them:
- "Septol" - can be used as a disinfectant and as a sterilizing agent.
- "Premium" - environmentally friendly, disinfectant, can also be used as a detergent.
- "Bactol" - misinformation. cleanser.
- "Bactol forte" is a highly concentrated complex preparation.
- Cleanex skin antiseptic solution can be used for emergency disinfection of surfaces.
- "Dez Tab" - very economical and versatile, available in the form of tablets and granules with chlorine.
- Disinfectant "Nika " - has an additional washing effect and is safe for human he alth. Can be used in children's institutions, catering establishments.
Only those medical disinfectants approved by the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision Department can be used in a medical institution.
Disinfecting hands
It is very important when providing medical care that hands are clean. For this, modern hand sanitizers are used. They can be in the form:
- Spray.
- Napkins.
- Soaps.
- Solution.
They can also have different bases, namely:
- Alcohol based.
- Based on organic acids.
- SAW.
- Oxygen based and overacids.
- Using halogens and so on.
The peculiarity of such preparations is that they should not contain chlorine-containing compounds. There may be triclosan, lactic acid, or chlorhexidine.
Do not use alcohol-containing liquids if your hands have damaged skin. They dry the skin, but they do not last long. There are antiseptics that do not contain alcohol. Let's name a few preparations for hand treatment that have gained confidence: "Sterillium", "Eco Breeze", "Dettol", "Diamond Hands". Disinfectant "Nika" - isoseptic, also suitable for hand disinfection.
You need to choose a product based on the characteristics of the skin, and also take into account the conditions in which it will be used. For example, sprays can be used both at home and in everyday life. It is necessary to take into account the composition of the agent. Gels and liquids are best used at home or at work.
They moisturize the skin well, have a caring effect. In a purse, such a product can be spilled if the packaging is fragile. Disinfectant wipes are widely used in everyday life, as well as by athletes. You can carry them with you, use them on trips.
However, it is worth remembering that the frequent use of antibacterial agents can disrupt the water-fat balance of the skin. Since often these products destroy not only pathogenic bacteria and viruses, but also beneficial microflora, which is necessary to maintain natural protection.
How to prepare a disinfectant solution
Disinfectant solutions can be either ready-made or in the form of tablets, powders or highly concentrated solutions. And this means that you have to prepare the remedy yourself. Therefore, before disinfection, the instructions for the use of disinfectants should be studied.
When preparing a disinfectant solution, you must follow a few rules:
- First of all, the materials used for disinfection must be approved for use.
- The room should be separate, with good ventilation. You can’t store personal items, food, eat, smoke here.
- Before you start preparing the solution, you must familiarize yourself with the safety requirements.
- Protective clothing and protective equipment must be worn. Gloves, if necessary, mask, goggles.
- Follow the instructions of the preparation being prepared.
- Prepare in advance a dry container marked with a lid. Also water of the right temperature, dry measuring utensils, a spatula.
- Measure the right amount of water, the required amount of disinfectant and combine the ingredients. Thoroughly mix the resulting solution and close tightly with a lid.
- The time and date of preparation of the solution must be indicated on the container. In a medical institution or at an enterprise, indicate the responsible person.
- If the solution is prepared for single use, it is poured out after use. If it is intended for repeated use, then after applicationit is closed and stored, observing the conditions. If flakes, sediment, or an uncharacteristic color appear, do not store the product.
Before you prepare the solution and carry out disinfection, first of all, you must carefully remove the dirt from the surface, and then start preparing it. The disinfectant solution will not be able to kill the germs that thrive in the pieces of dirt.
After the end of disinfection, the items must be washed or rinsed with clean, running water until the smell disappears.
When preparing a disinfectant solution, do not:
- Mix the new solution with the old one.
- Use dirty water.
- Add detergent to disinfectant solution. This does not apply to hydrogen peroxide.
- It is unacceptable to mix two different products.
- Do not store tools or cleaning items in the prepared solution.
Disinfectant for all time
Not every person can afford to buy modern disinfectants that are not cheap. However, it is possible to carry out disinfection without using expensive preparations. Every house has soda and laundry soap. And as you know, our grandmothers also used soap and soda solution.
To prepare it:
- Laundry soap (72%) three on a grater.
- Put 2 liters of water on fire and add soap, stir until completely dissolved.
- Then add 5 tablespoons of soda ash.
- After boiling, it is necessary to reduce the fire and simmer more10 minutes.
- Leave overnight to cool until thickened.
This product can be used every day for cleaning and disinfection.
Soap and soda solution can be made less concentrated. To do this, you need to use more liquid. So, to obtain a 1% solution, you need to take a concentrated solution of 100 grams and dilute it with 10 liters of water. For greater concentration, dilute with 5 liters of water. This is such an easy preparation. Disinfectant solution is prepared immediately before use.
The peculiarity of this solution is that it can be used not only for disinfection of objects, but also for cosmetic procedures. It is also allowed to wipe food with a shell. But after that, you need to rinse the food under running water.
Hazard classes of disinfectants
When working with disinfectants, their hazard class must be taken into account.
- First class drugs are extremely toxic. Do not use in medical institutions. They are used only in extreme situations, in special suits and gas masks. Cannot be used indoors.
- Means of the 2nd class. Highly dangerous. Used in the absence of people. In this case, personal protective equipment is used. Cannot be used in childcare facilities, food facilities, he althcare organizations. Airing and cleaning required after use.
- Means of the 3rd class. Moderately dangerous. Can be used without protective equipment, but in the absence of people. Necessarilythe conditions for the use of drugs must be observed. And also the subsequent airing and cleaning is important.
- 4 class. Low-dangerous. You can use without restriction.
First aid
Detergents and disinfectants should always be used with extreme caution, as they can cause burns if they come into contact with mucous membranes and skin. Inhalation of disinfectant vapors may cause poisoning. How to provide first aid in this situation?
- If a highly concentrated preparation has got on the unprotected skin of the hands, it is necessary to rinse this area with plenty of water. If formaldehyde has entered, it is recommended to treat the skin with a 5% solution of ammonia.
- In case of possible vapor poisoning, if the respiratory tract is irritated, the victim must be taken to fresh air. Then rinse your mouth and nose with water. If poisoning with formaldehyde vapors, it is recommended to inhale vapors with the addition of a few drops of ammonia. Warm milk with soda or Borjomi will also help. Continue to monitor for symptoms. You may need to use antitussive, cardiac or sedative drugs. In severe cases, immediate hospitalization is necessary.
- If the drug gets into the eyes, immediately rinse them under running water or 2% sodium bicarbonate solution for several minutes. You can also drip "Albucid" to relieve irritation. For pain, drip "Novocaine" (1-2% solution).
- If the drug has entered the gastrointestinal tract, do a gastric lavage with a 2% solution of sodium thiosulfate. In case of formaldehyde poisoning, washing is done with the addition of ammonia or 3% sodium acetate to the water. Further recommended foods are milk, raw eggs, and protein water.
In order not to resort to first aid, instructions for the use of disinfectants should be studied before work, and it is also important to observe safety precautions when preparing solutions and using them.
Modern arsenal of disinfectants is so great that the eyes run wide when choosing beautiful bottles and jars. But at the same time, you should always focus on the result that you want to get. Sometimes using affordable laundry soap can replace expensive products.
