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Definitions:
MIC and MBC values are recorded in milligrams per litre or per millilitre
(mg/L or mg/ml)
Concentration of agent
Duration of exposure to the active agent
Temperature
pH
Microbial density
The more concentrated the disinfectant, the greater its efficacy and the
shorter the time necessary to achieve microbial kill. Considering the length
of the disinfection time, which depends on the potency of the germicide,
also is important.
Items must be exposed to the germicide for the appropriate minimum
contact time. The exact times for disinfecting medical items are somewhat
elusive because of the effect of the aforementioned factors on disinfection
efficacy.
Blood, serum, pus, faeces or soil is known to affect the cidal activity of
many antimicrobial agents
Disinfectants are tested in hard water containing 0.3 g/L bovine albumin
to mimic dirty conditions
Disinfectants should be evaluated under both clean and dirty conditions
Disinfectant whose activities are particularly attenuated in the presence of
organic contaminant include the halogen disinfectants. (e.g. sodium
hypoclorite) where the disinfectant reacts with the organic matter to form
inactive complexes, biguanides, phenolic compounds and QACs.
Disc diffusion
These are really modifications of the earlier cup or ditch-plates
procedures where filter-paper discs impregnated with antimicrobial replace
the antimicrobial-filled cups or cells.
Dilution tests
These usually employ liquid media but can be modified to involve solid
media.
It require a number of controls e.g. sterility control growth control, and
the simultaneous testing of a bacterial strain with known MIC to show
that the dilution series is correct.
E-tests
The most convenient and presently accepted method of determining
bacterial MICs.