Antimicrobial Agents Are Of Three Types:
Purpose: Reduces microorganisms to safe levels.
- Lowers the number of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
- Does not eliminate all microorganisms.
- Generally used on food-contact surfaces, hands, and public areas.
- Meets regulatory standards for reducing microbial counts to safe limits.
Sanitizing = Reduce to safe levels.
Purpose: Kills most harmful microorganisms.
- Destroys bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
- May not kill bacterial spores.
- Used on non-living surfaces.
- Stronger than sanitizers.
Disinfection = Kill most pathogens (not necessarily spores).
Purpose: Completely eliminates all forms of microbial life.
- Kills bacteria, viruses, fungi, and bacterial spores.
- Highest level of microbial control.
- Used for surgical instruments, pharmaceutical equipment, and critical medical devices.
Sterilization = Destroy everything including spores.
In One Line:
- Sanitize = Make it safe.
- Disinfect = Kills most germs.
- Sterilize = Kills all germs.