What are the mechanism of actions of disinfectants?

Answer 1

By many methods, depending on the disinfectant, I'll tell you quickly about three very common ones.

Soap - consists of many amphillic molecules similar to that seen in detergent, which bind to lipids on one end and bind to water on the other end. Scrubbing with soap will cause these molecules to bind against the lipid membrane of bacteria and upon washing off with water will rip these membranes apart.

Alcohol - has a wide bactericidal range and this is due to the many ways alcohol interferes with cellular function. Fast evaporation results in cell dehydration. Its ability to dissolve in some non-polar medium results in lipid membrane disruption. Its ability to bind to polar groups as well as penetrate a lipid bilayer results in protein distruption.

Oxidizing agent - usually used on inanimate surfaces as it can easily damage living tissues. These agents work to oxidize (rip electrons away) from cell membranes and cause cell lysis and death.

Since all the above methods are a result of physical distruption, bacterial cannot become "immune" to such chemicals and hence these disinfecting techniques will likely continue to work against bacteria for centuries to come. There is an exception for bacterial spores which are similar to plant seeds, they are inanimate but can come to life when in the right conditions.

Answer 2

A disinfectant works chemically by disrupting integral parts of biochemical homeostasis in microbes, usually by disrupting the lipid bi layer. The mechanisms of these are so chemically powerful, for example hypochlorite (Chlorox), the microorganisms cannot easily adapt to these mechanisms. Some examples of these are denaturing or coagulation of proteins, disruption of the cell membrane, or removal of free SH- groups. The important thing to remember about disinfectants is that they only kill a large number of micro organisms, they do not sterilize the surface they are applied to. Disinfectants are used on surfaces instead of tissues due to how astringent they are. These are not to be confused with antiseptics which are used on living tissue.

Answer 3

A disinfectant is used to get rid of bacteria.

For example, you would put disinfectant on a floor before wiping it.

A disinfectant can be in a few forms.

To name a few, there are sprays, wipes, and more.

An alternative disinfectant is water, but it has to be at extreme temperatures.

Answer 4

They break down the bacteria's cell wall and/or turns them into positive charges.

Answer 5

depend upon surface area,that u have to disinfect

Answer 6

The mechanism of a disinfectants is metabolism inhibitions, cell membrane disruption and macromolecule dysfunction. Some disinfectants cause the cells to initiate a self destruct sequence.