Final answer:
High-level germicides can kill vegetative cells, fungi, viruses, and endospores, while low-level germicides only kill vegetative cells and some enveloped viruses. The effectiveness of disinfectants is influenced by factors such as length of exposure, concentration, temperature, and pH. Alcohols and phenolic compounds are effective against bacteria and viruses, while detergents can disrupt cell membranes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemical disinfectants are grouped by the types of microbes and infectious agents they are effective against. High-level germicides kill vegetative cells, fungi, viruses, and endospores, and can ultimately lead to sterilization. Intermediate-level germicides cannot kill all viruses and are less effective against endospores. Low-level germicides kill vegetative cells and some enveloped viruses, but are ineffective against endospores.
The effectiveness of a disinfectant is influenced by several factors, including length of exposure, concentration of disinfectant, temperature, and pH. Alcohols, such as the ones found in hand sanitizers, tend to be bactericidal and fungicidal, but may also be viricidal for enveloped viruses only. Phenolic compounds, like the one found in antibacterial soaps, can inhibit bacterial fatty-acid synthesis and detergents, such as quaternary ammonium compounds, disrupt cell membranes.