Final answer:
Disinfectants and antiseptics are chemical agents for microbial control, with efficacy measured against standards like phenol. Halogens are a common disinfectant due to their oxidizing effects on cells. Sterilization is a higher level of microbial elimination compared to disinfection, which does not eliminate all microbes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Disinfectants and antiseptics are chemical agents used for microbial control in various environments, including healthcare settings. Comparing their effectiveness can be done using methods such as broth dilution or disk diffusion assay, with phenol often serving as a benchmark standard due to its powerful antibacterial effect.
Hospital and tuberculocidal disinfectants are types used in salon settings, and they are categorized based on the range of microbes they can eliminate.
Halogens, such as iodine and chlorine, are commonly used for disinfection due to their oxidizing properties that can disrupt vital cellular components. The effectiveness of disinfectants is contingent on various factors including length of exposure, temperature, and concentration.
Chemical germicides are rated as high-level, intermediate-level, or low-level based on the types of microbes they can destroy, with high-level germicides capable of achieving sterilization under the right conditions.
When discussing the subject of disinfection, it is important to take into account the biological safety levels established by organizations such as the CDC and NIH, which dictate the degree of cleanliness required in laboratory and healthcare settings based on the potential risk of infection.
Sterilization, a process that aims to destroy all forms of microbial life, is distinguished from disinfection, which only reduces the number of microorganisms.