Alcohol, 84 disinfectant, chlorine dioxide, iodophor ...
How to use the correct disinfectant

Born in 1984, 84 disinfectant was named for it.

Disinfection products have evolved to the fourth generation. Chlorine dioxide is classified as A1 safe and efficient disinfectant.

The history of the development of disinfectants is also a history of progress in human public health and progress in health awareness.

On March 20, Wuhan Hankou Railway Station, which had been closed for 58 days, was fully disinfected. The staff members carry chlorine dioxide disinfectant, and they use the dual-tube pulse mist sprayer to kill all kinds of public facilities such as the ground, elevators, and seats in the train station, ensuring no dead corners or blind spots.

During the fight against the new crown pneumonia epidemic, disinfection products such as chlorine dioxide disinfectant and 84 disinfectant frequently entered the public eye. According to Zhang Liubo, chief expert of disinfection of China Centers for Disease Control and director of the disinfection center of the Institute of Environment, all disinfectants are effective against the new coronavirus. Let us reveal the past and present of the disinfectant.

Disinfectant refers to the preparation used to kill pathogenic microorganisms on the transmission medium to make them harmless. It is different from antibiotics, and its main function is to destroy pathogenic microorganisms outside the human body, cut off the transmission of infectious diseases, and achieve the purpose of controlling infectious diseases. It is called "chemical disinfectant".

The formation and development of modern disinfection concepts originated from the rise of modern science and from the needs of clinical medicine. In the middle of the 19th century, Semmelvis made a comparative analysis of the fatality rate of puerperal fever in two obstetric ward real estate women in the Affiliated Hospital of the University of Vienna. In the second half of the 19th century, the discovery of bacteria by Pasteur and others laid the foundation for modern microbiology. The development of epidemiology has accelerated the formation of modern disinfection concepts. The development of new physics and chemistry technologies has provided favorable conditions for the updating of disinfection methods, and the disinfectant products are constantly updated.

According to experts, the effective ingredient of the first-generation disinfection products is sodium chlorate, and the common product in life is 84 disinfectant. 84 disinfectant has a high disinfection rate, but it is irritating and corrosive. 84 disinfectant was developed by Beijing Ditan Hospital to prevent the spread of hepatitis A. It was named after the year it was invented "1984".

The active ingredient of the second-generation disinfection product is p-chloro-xylenol, which is relatively expensive, slightly toxic, and slightly corrosive. The common products in life are dew disinfectant and Weiluth disinfectant.

The effective ingredients of the third generation disinfection products are single- and double-stranded compound quaternary ammonium salts. Common products in life include Anjie full-effect sterilization solution, which has a high rate of disinfection and sterilization, but long-term use can easily cause bacterial pathogens to develop drug resistance.

The active ingredient of the fourth-generation disinfection products is chlorine dioxide. Chlorine dioxide disinfectant is internationally recognized as a highly effective disinfectant.

In recent years, the research on chemical disinfection has shown diversified trends:

The first is the study of compound chemical disinfectants. The compound disinfectant overcomes the shortcomings of the disinfectant when used alone, and increases the bactericidal effect, which is very popular. For example, in the past, glutaraldehyde sterilization had to be used only at a concentration of 2%, and a cationic surfactant was added to 1% glutaraldehyde to achieve the same sterilization effect as 2% glutaraldehyde. Iodine and chlorhexidine (chlorhexidine) are complexed to form chlorhexidine iodine, and its bactericidal effect is greatly improved.

The second is the new use of old disinfectants. Some ancient disinfectants can still be used after overcoming their disadvantages. Sodium hypochlorite plus some surfactants, its bactericidal effect is greatly improved; the combination of single-chain quaternary ammonium salt disinfectants and double-long-chain quaternary ammonium salts improves the disinfection and so on.

The third is the constant emergence of new disinfectants. Chlorine dioxide is known as the fourth-generation chemical sterilant, and it has been classified as a Class A1 safe and efficient disinfectant by the World Health Organization and the World Food Organization. In order to control the production of "three causing substances" (carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic) in drinking water, developed countries in Europe and the United States have widely used chlorine dioxide instead of chlorine gas to disinfect drinking water.

In life, alcohol is often used for medical disinfection, and 75% alcohol has the best disinfection effect. 84 disinfectant is suitable for general surface disinfection. Chlorine dioxide is considered the first choice for tap disinfectants. Iodine can be used to disinfect the skin and mucous membranes ... When choosing a disinfectant, you should carefully check the packaging label and instruction manual according to the different purposes and objects you use, and choose products that are hygienic, safe, and quality guaranteed.

In fact, the history of the development of disinfectants is also a history of progress in human public health and progress in health awareness. What is called behind the new crown pneumonia epidemic is not just to integrate the awareness of disinfection and disease prevention into life, but also to draw people's close attention to the cause of public health, and let the alarm bells for prevention and control of the epidemic be heard.

Tips

The abuse of disinfectants, the failure to master the scientific preparation and use of disinfectants, or the lack of safety measures for household storage of disinfectants, or the use of beverage bottles for disinfectants, which can lead to misuse and misuse of others, can cause disinfectant poisoning. Most disinfectant poisoning can be cured quickly after proper treatment.

First-aid measures that can be taken in the event of an accident include: breathing into the contact with the respiratory tract, immediately leaving the scene environment, to fresh air. Those who come into contact with the skin and mucous membranes (including the eyes) should immediately rinse with plenty of running water for more than 10 minutes. If contacted by mistake, you can protect the gastrointestinal mucosa by taking milk, rice porridge orally. If the patient is exposed to large doses, or the symptoms do not improve, they should be sent to the hospital immediately.

Source: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Wang Junping

Wang Junping