The Effect of Various Brands of Chloroxylenol disinfectants on Some Common Hospital PAthogens

Abstract

Suspension and surface viability tests were carried out to determine the effects of various brands of chloroxylenol disinfectants on clinically important nosocomial gram negative and gram-positive organisms. Dettol and morigard brands of chloroxylenol inhibited gram-positive organisms at a dilution of 1 in 50. Tiscol brand of chloroxylenol achieved the same effect at 1 in 30. All the disinfectants had much less activity against the gram negative organisms tested, inhibiting them only in the undiluted form, though Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not inhibited even by the undiluted Tiscol.


The presence of organic matter resulted in a slight loss of activity, thus, raising the required inhibitory concentration of Dettol and Morigard on the gram-positive organisms to 1 in 40. When all organisms were exposed to recommended dilutions of disinfectants for 10, 30, 60 and 90 minutes on a glass tile at room temperature, dettol and morigard inhibited all organisms, including P aeruginosa at, a minimum contact time of 10 minutes while Tiscol inhibited only gram positives at 30 minutes but could not inhibit gram negative organisms even at 90 minutes.


Apart from having a different recommended dilution from dettol and morigard, Tiscol was also observed to have a lower activity, although they were all stated to have about the same concentration. In Nigeria, there is need for manufacturers to be able to sustantiate the activity of their products and also for the relevant government agencies to adequately control monitoring of disinfectants in the market.





[J. of the Nig. Infection Control Assn. Vol.3(2) 2000: 10-13]