What is the aim of disinfection?

Author: Nedra Kuhn  |  Last update: Friday, January 23, 2026

Disinfecting uses chemicals (disinfectants) to kill germs on surfaces and objects. Some common disinfectants are bleach and alcohol solutions. You usually need to leave the disinfectant on the surfaces and objects for a certain period of time to kill the germs.

What is the aim of the disinfection process?

Disinfection describes a process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects (Tables 1 and 2). In health-care settings, objects usually are disinfected by liquid chemicals or wet pasteurization.

What is the main purpose of disinfection?

Therefore, the main purpose of disinfection is to reduce the potential health risk associated with consumption of drinking water by inactivating pathogens. This prevents the possible spread of water-borne diseases.

What is the goal of disinfection?

Disinfection is the process of removing micro-organisms, including potentially pathogenic ones, from the surfaces of inanimate objects.

What is the purpose of a disinfecting solution?

Disinfecting can kill viruses and bacteria that remain on surfaces after cleaning. By killing germs on a surface after cleaning, disinfecting can further lower the risk of spreading germs that can cause illness.

Episode 16: Cleaning? Disinfection? What is the Difference?

What is the principle of disinfection?

Disinfection is defined as: “the destruction of microorganisms but not usually bacterial spores; this does not necessarily involve killing all microorganisms, but reducing their number to a level not normally harmful to health.

What is the benefit of disinfecting?

Eliminates Pathogens

The most obvious and beneficial advantage of using these products is to eliminate viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Considering all three of these are incredibly dangerous to the human immune system, it makes perfect sense to prevent these pathogens from spreading.

What are the aims of disinfection?

Disinfection is the process of eliminating potentially harmful microorganisms in the environment to a degree that cannot reach the level that requires sterilization.

What is the purpose of primary disinfection?

Disinfection (primary disinfection) is a process or a series of processes intended to inactivate human pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa, potentially present in influent water before the water is delivered to the first consumer.

What is the main reason for cleaning?

Cleanliness is essential for good health and safety. A clean environment helps to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria, which can cause a variety of illnesses. It also helps to reduce the risk of accidents, such as slips and falls.

What is disinfection function?

Disinfection, on the other hand, refers to reducing or removing pathogenic bacteria from objects in the environment to prevent health issues. AI generated definition based on: Interface Science and Technology, 2023.

What is the main objective of cleaning?

Cleaning is the removal of dirt and part of the micro-organisms. Optimally performed cleaning can reduce the number of microorganisms on a surface by 50%-90%. This value may seem high, but from a microbiological point of view this is not the case.

Why is disinfection important in healthcare?

The process of high-level disinfection, an appropriate standard of treatment for heat-sensitive, semi-critical medical instruments (e.g., flexible, fiberoptic endoscopes), inactivates all vegetative bacteria, mycobacteria, viruses, fungi, and some bacterial spores.

What is the purpose of chemical disinfection?

Chemical disinfectants are applied to non-living objects and materials, such as surfaces and instruments to control and prevent infection, whilst antiseptics (a type of disinfectant) are applied to living tissues.

What is the role of disinfection and sterilization?

Achieving disinfection and sterilization by disinfectants and sterilization practices is essential for ensuring that medical and surgical instruments do not transmit infectious pathogens to patients.

How does disinfection prevent infection?

Disinfection: A process that destroys or prevents the growth of micro-organisms to a level at which they are not harmful. Spores may not always be destroyed. Suitable for cleaning near patient equipment, that has been potentially contaminated by transmissible pathogens including C.

What is the purpose of the disinfection process?

Disinfecting uses chemicals (disinfectants) to kill germs on surfaces and objects. Some common disinfectants are bleach and alcohol solutions. You usually need to leave the disinfectant on the surfaces and objects for a certain period of time to kill the germs.

What is the protocol for disinfection?

Wash the area or item with water and detergent. Allow the area to dry completely. Select and apply an appropriate, effective disinfectant. Thoroughly rinse away any residual disinfectant and allow the area or item to dry.

What is the aim of disinfection procedure in dentistry?

Disinfection of dental impressions is an essential routine that aims to protect dental personnel, who handle impressions or casts, against exposure to diseases brought about by contact with microorganisms such as viruses; hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes, and HIV, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Hemalatha & Ganapathy, ...

What is the purpose of disinfectant?

Antiseptics and disinfectants are both widely used to control infections. They kill microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi using chemicals called biocides. Disinfectants are used to kill germs on nonliving surfaces.

What is the advantage of disinfection?

Disinfectants are more effective than detergents in reducing the microbial load on floors. Disinfection of noncritical equipment and surfaces is recommended for patients on isolation precautions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is the overview of disinfection?

Introduction

Disinfection is the method to destroy most microbial forms, especially vegetative pathogens rather than bacterial spores, by using physical and chemical procedures such as UV radiation, boiling, vapor.

What is the purpose of sanitizing?

Sanitizing reduces the number of germs on objects and surfaces to levels considered safe. Use weaker bleach solutions or sanitizing sprays. Objects or surfaces should be cleaned frst before sanitizing.

Why is disinfecting premises important?

Regular disinfection of premises is a good idea as part of the fight against molds, pathogenic bacteria, parasites and viruses. Their propagation can be damaging to human health. Everybody understandably thinks of the Covid-19 pandemic, because contaminated droplets can persist on surfaces.

What are the disadvantages of disinfection?

  • sporicidal properties questionable.
  • skin irritation on prolonged contact.
  • possible bronchial irritation from inhalation.
  • general caustic effects.
  • corrosion of metals.
  • Product deterioration on standing.
  • bleaching effect on fabrics.
  • non-wetting action.

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