IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF WIDELY USED CHEMICAL DISINFECTANTS AGAINST VARIOUS MICROORGANISMS

Activities of seven different disinfectants that are used commonly against bacteria, fungi and spores have been assessed by using the European Standard EN 1276, EN 1650 and EN 13704 methods, respectively. Disinfectants that contain sodium hypochloride, cationic surfactants and their combinations were found to be effective in five minutes against Escherichia coli ATCC 10799, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 strains. Disinfectants that contain anionic and non-ionic surfactants and organic chloride compounds were found to be effective in 15 minutes against E. coli ATCC 10799 and S. aureus ATCC 6538, and in 30 minutes against E.faecalis ATCC 29212 and C.albicans ATCC 10231. Organic chloride compound and cationic surfactant - alcohol ethoxylate combination showed sporicidal activity against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 spores in 15 minutes. We found the producer's recommended concentrations were sufficient to achieve an effective disinfection against vegetative bacteria and yeast, but not to bacterial spores.