What Is the Meaning of Antiseptic?

Antiseptic means preventing infection and decay by limiting the action of microorganisms. An antiseptic is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth and development of microorganisms on living tissue. Most antiseptics are topical agents applied to skin and mucous membranes. Some antiseptics, however, are used internally, such as in the urinary tract or vagina prior to a medical procedure. Alcohol and iodine are two popular antiseptics.

Time Frame

• Some antiseptics work very quickly. For example, iodine kills bacteria within 30 seconds. Antiseptics that are slower to act may have more residual activity and effect. The phenol coefficient is a measure of the time required for the antiseptic to affect microorganisms in comparison with the time required by phenol.

Differences

• The purpose of antiseptics is to inhibit or kill microorganisms on skin or mucous membranes without damaging the tissue. The chemicals in antiseptics are not as powerful as those in disinfectants. Use disinfectant rather than antiseptic for inanimate objects, such as surgical instruments. Clean items before disinfecting. Disinfectants are useless in the presence of blood or pus.

Variety

• Iodine compounds have the broadest spectrum of topical antiseptics, acting against bacteria, fungi, viruses, spores, protozoa and yeasts. Chlorhexidine is a safe choice for cleaning mucous membranes. It is also the antiseptic component in body washes and oral rinses. Hexachlorophene is a component of hand scrubs and face washes.

  Antiseptics for skin cleaning include alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and iodine and mercury compounds. Although the antibacterial activity of hydrogen peroxide is not as strong as that of other antiseptic substances, the resulting oxygen bubbles produce effervescent action, which may be useful for the removal of dead tissue.

Precautions

• Selection of an antiseptic may need to vary according to the medical history of a patient. To avoid the risk of iodine absorption by a fetus or infant, iodine-containing antiseptics should see limited use in pregnant or breast-feeding patients. Iodine absorption by infants could result in changes in their thyroid function.

  Antiseptics, particularly those containing alcohol, can cause skin dryness and irritation. The organic compounds in some antiseptics--such as chlorhexidine, benzalkonium and hexachlorophene--can aggravate hypersensitivity.

  Mercuric chloride, a powerful antiseptic, irritates delicate skin and tissue. Silver nitrate kills fewer germs, but is gentle enough to use on the delicate tissues of the eyes and throat. Thimerosal is a mercury compound active against bacteria and yeasts. Mercury toxicity, however, can occur with prolonged use.

Surgical Use

• After Louis Pasteur discovered that microorganisms cause infections, Joseph Lister became the first to incorporate antiseptic into the surgical process. Modern techniques for avoiding infection rely on the absence of pathogenic organisms, or asepsis. The main method for achieving asepsis is sterilization.