Antiseptics:
Many chemical substances are used on living tissues to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, these are called antiseptics.
Disinfectants:
The important chemical agents used for disinfections are oxidizing and reducing agents. For example halogens and phenols, hydrogen, peroxide, potassium permagnate, alcohol and formaldehyde etc. These chemicals inhibit the growth of vegetative cells. They are used on nonliving materials.
Chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics:
Chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics work with natural defense and stop the growth of bacteria and other microbes. These are sulfonamides, tetracycline, penicillin, etc. They destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms in living tissues.
Microbicidal and Microbistatic effect:
Microbicidal effect is one that kills the microbes immediately. Microbistatic effect is one that inhibits the reproductive capacity of the cells and maintains the microbial population at constant size.
Mode of action of different chemical and physical agents of control is variable. Damage can result in malfunctioning of cell wall, cell membrane cytoplasm enzymes, or nucleic acid.
Many chemical substances are used on living tissues to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, these are called antiseptics.
Disinfectants:
The important chemical agents used for disinfections are oxidizing and reducing agents. For example halogens and phenols, hydrogen, peroxide, potassium permagnate, alcohol and formaldehyde etc. These chemicals inhibit the growth of vegetative cells. They are used on nonliving materials.
Chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics:
Chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics work with natural defense and stop the growth of bacteria and other microbes. These are sulfonamides, tetracycline, penicillin, etc. They destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms in living tissues.
Microbicidal and Microbistatic effect:
Microbicidal effect is one that kills the microbes immediately. Microbistatic effect is one that inhibits the reproductive capacity of the cells and maintains the microbial population at constant size.
Mode of action of different chemical and physical agents of control is variable. Damage can result in malfunctioning of cell wall, cell membrane cytoplasm enzymes, or nucleic acid.
