PHENOLICS
Phenol itself
(perhaps the oldest of the surgical antiseptics) is nolonger used even as a
disinfectant because of its corrosive effect on tissues, its toxicity when
absorbed, and its carcinogenic effect. These adverse actions are diminished by
forming derivatives in which a functional group replaces a hydrogen atom in the
aromatic ring. The phenolic agents most commonly used are o-phenylphenol,o-benzyl-p-chlorophenol,and p-tertiary amylphenol.Mixturesof
phenolic derivatives are often used. Some of these are derived from coal tar
distillates, eg, cresols and xylenols. Skin absorption and skin irritation
still occur with these derivatives, and appropri-ate care is necessary in their
use. Detergents are often added to formulations to clean and remove organic
material that may decrease the activity of a phenolic compound.
Phenolic compounds
disrupt cell walls and membranes, pre-cipitate proteins, and inactivate
enzymes. They are bactericidal (including mycobacteria) and fungicidal and are
capable of inacti-vating lipophilic viruses. They are not sporicidal. Dilution
and time of exposure recommendations of the manufacturer must be followed.
Phenolic disinfectants
are used for hard surface decontamina-tion in hospitals and laboratories, eg,
floors, beds, and counter or bench tops. They are not recommended for use in
nurseries and especially in bassinets, where their use has been associated with
hyperbilirubinemia. Use of hexachlorophene
as a skin disinfec-tant has caused cerebral edema and convulsions in premature
infants and, occasionally, in adults.
Related Topics
Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, DMCA Policy and Compliant
Copyright © 2018-2023 BrainKart.com; All Rights Reserved. Developed by Therithal info, Chennai.