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Disinfectant and Bacteria
Name: Isabelle R.
Status: Student
Age: 17
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2002
Question:
Following an experiment conducted to see how different
concentrations of disinfectant affect the growth of E.coli, I am
interested in finding out about HOW the disinfectant kills the
bacteria. I understand that some sort of process of oxidation is
involved, but I would like to know more. All the web site links that I
have found have only looked at the use of disinfectant, and different
products, but not actually how they work.
Replies:
A very good question and especially relevant right now, because some
microbiologists are worried that the current widespread use of
disinfectants will speed the development of resistance in bacteria. There
are a number of agents that can be used to kill bacteria on contact that
work in different ways. What disinfectant were you interested in? A
useful web site might be the manufacturer of the product.
Laura Hungerford, DVM, MPH, PhD
University of Nebraska
It depends on the disinfectant being used. Many disrupt cell membranes, many
denature proteins including enzymes, others are oxidizing agents. For
example, phenols, phenolics, and alcohols denature proteins. Alcohols also
disrupt lipids in the cell membrane. Halogens, hydrogen peroxide, iodine,
chlorine, hypochlorite (bleach) are oxidizing agents and inactivate enzymes
by oxidizing their functional groups. Heavy metals react with -SH groups on
enyzmes.
vanhoeck
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Update: June 2012
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