title: Comparative efficacy evaluation of disinfectants routinely used in hospital practice: India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare practically achieved disinfection efficacy of some locally available disinfectants on surfaces and infectious microbiological hospital waste.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven disinfectants were tested at concentrations recommended by manufacturers on rough and smooth surfaces that were contaminated experimentally by locally circulating isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, standard isolate of Salmonella typhi and Candida albicans. Reduction in microbial counts before and after surface disinfection was expressed as log reduction. A very heavy microbial waste load was simulated by immersing culture plates with heavy microbial growth in disinfectants. Daily, a sample of disinfectant was taken and subjected to in-use test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest average log reduction of test microbes on the rough surface was given by DesNet (5.05) and Bacillocid special (5.02). A comparable average log reduction of test microbes on a smooth steel surface was noted (5.68, 5.67, 5.50) for Lysol, Bacillocid sp. and DesNet, respectively. In the discard jars, Bacillocid special worked satisfactorily for 4 days, DesNet for 3 days and Hi-giene Germitol for 1 day. The remainder of the disinfectants failed in the in-use test on Day 1. Phenolics, although widely used in our settings, may not be as good surface disinfectants as newer formulations like DesNet and Bacillocid special.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Newer quaternary ammonium compounds and aldehyde formulations were found to be the best disinfectants for disinfection of heavy contamination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Malkit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Pramod K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Jatinder K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.forename: Meera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Neelam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taneja