Safe selection of biocides

Published: 2-Apr-2012

Consideration of the antimicrobial efficacy of different biocides is an important basis on which to choose an effective disinfectant regime appropriate to the hygiene requirements in a production plant. Alcohols act rapidly and effectively against bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi and viruses but do not possess sporicidal efficacy. Quaternary ammonium compounds have no effect against bacterial spores or mycobacteria, while guanidines have better efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria, but are poorer against yeasts and moulds. Sources of contamination are also a crucial factor.

You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.

Production hygiene relates directly to the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products, and in line with the rising significance of hygiene in production processes, international hygiene standards are becoming ever more important. An example is the growing influence of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in international pharmaceutical manufacturing. At the same time, the harmonisation of international testing regulations (e.g. European Norms, EN) opens up new options for disinfectant risk assessment.

Choosing an effective disinfectant regime appropriate to the hygiene requirements in a production plant can be a complex process. In this context, consideration of the antimicrobial efficacy of different biocides is an important basis on which to make such decisions. Not all disinfectant actives have the same spectrum of effect and when systematically using disinfectants, it is vital to take into account the effect of different disinfectants. Table 1 gives an overview of the spectrum of antimicrobial efficacy of different biocides on selected actives, with a distinction being made between bactericidal, fungicidal, sporicidal, mycobactericidal and virucidal efficacy.1

Not yet a Subscriber?

This is a small extract of the full article which is available ONLY to premium content subscribers. Click below to get premium content on Cleanroom Technology.

Subscribe now Already a subscriber? Sign in here.

You may also like