THE REALITIES ABOUT POULTRY The Modern Farm - The Realities About Poultry_Seco | Page 58
treated with appropriate care. Most come with safety instructions printed on the packaging, which
should be read in full before using the disinfectant. Most modern household disinfectants contain
Bitrex, an exceptionally bitter substance designed to discourage ingestion, as an added safety
measure. Those that are used indoors should never be mixed with other cleaning products as
chemical reactions can occur.
Often these are used in hospitals, surgeries, kitchens and bathrooms to kill infectious organisms.
The choice of the disinfectant to be used depends on the particular situation. Some disinfectants
have a wide spectrum (kill nearly all microorganisms), whilst others kill a smaller range of disease-
causing organisms but are preferred for other properties (they may be non-corrosive, non-toxic, or
inexpensive).
The following are some criteria to consider when choosing a disinfectant:
Cost: The disinfectant should not be so costly.
Efficacy (i.e., killing efficiency against viruses, bacteria, fungi).Each disinfectant has
unique antimicrobial attributes.
Degree of contamination. This affects the time required for disinfection and the amount of
chemical required.
Type of chemical. It is important to understand the mode of action in order to select the
appropriate disinfectant.
Amount of protein-containing material present. Protein based materials absorb and
inactivate some chemical disinfectants.
Activity with organic matter (e.g. soap).
Toxicity to the environment (relative safety to animals and humans)
Residual activity and effects on fabric and metal.
Concentration and quantity of chemical. It is important to choose the proper concentration
and quantity of chemical that are best used for the disinfection of each situation.
Solubility (i.e., acidity, alkalinity, pH)
Contact time and temperature. Sufficient time and appropriate temperature, which is
proportional to the degree of contamination, must be allowed for action of the disinfectant.
Application temperature, pH and interactions with other compounds must be considered.
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