What does phenol coefficient indicate?

the number indicating the effectiveness of a disinfectant as a germicide relative to phenol, which is arbitrarily assigned the number 1: based on the time required to kill a given quantity of a specific type of bacteria.

What will be the phenol coefficient of a chemical disinfectant is more effective than phenol?

If a chemical disinfectant is more effective than phenol, then its phenol coefficient would be greater than 1.0.

What are the limitations of phenol coefficient test?

The test has its limitations when applied to silver preparations or to other products that have high bacteriostatic action. By adding the transfer test to the regular phenol coefficient test, one can readily determine which products are actually germicidal and which have only a restraining effect on bacterial growth.

How would you determine whether an agent is suitable for use as an antiseptic rather than as a disinfectant?

Antiseptics are used on living organisms, such as human skin, to kill any microorganisms living on the bodies surface. Disinfectants are used on non-living things, such as countertops and handrails, to kill the microorganisms living on that inanimate surface.

Why phenol coefficient test is done?

It is a measure of the bactericidal activity of a chemical compound in relation to phenol. When listed numerically, the figure expressing the disinfecting power of a substance by relating it to the disinfecting power of phenol may be a function of the standardized test performed.

What is phenol coefficient Slideshare?

c) Phenol coefficient: • Phenol coefficient of a disinfectant is calculated by dividing the dilution of test disinfectant by the dilution of phenol that disinfects under predetermined conditions.

Why phenol is used as standard disinfectant?

Phenol can kill Anthrax spores (which cause severe skin lesions, lung infections, and intestine diseases) at 5\% concentration within 48 hours. Thus phenol is used for comparison of the power of disinfection of other disinfectants such as chlorine, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, etc.

Why phenol is used as disinfectant?

Since the phenols cannot kill every type of microbe, they are considered to be disinfectants as opposed to sterilants, the latter of which would imply the death of all microbes on inanimate objects or surfaces as opposed to most microbes in the case of a disinfectant. A final advantage of a phenol is its ease of use.

Which of the following acts as a test organism in the procedure of phenol coefficient method?

Which of the following acts as a test organism in the procedure of phenol-coefficient method? Explanation: In the procedure of Phenol-Coefficient method the test organism employed is a specific strain of either Salmonella typhi or Staphylococcus aureus.

Why do we need to check the concentration of chemical agents when sanitizing tools and equipment?

Cleaners and sanitizers must be accurately measured and correctly prepared to ensure they are effective. Too little sanitizer allows for the potential growth of these organisms, whereas too much sanitizer can act as an adulterant to the product and unnecessarily raise sanitation costs.

Why is contact so important in the disinfection process?

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a disinfectant is contact time. Contact time—or “wet time”—is how long a disinfectant needs to stay wet on a surface in order to be effective. Disinfectants with long contact times also reduce compliance because it’s harder to use them correctly.

Why phenol is used as standard to evaluate the disinfectants?

The disinfectant to be tested is compared with phenol on a standard microbe (usually Salmonella typhi or Staphylococcus aureus). Disinfectants that are more effective than phenol have a coefficient greater than 1; those that are less effective have a coefficient less than 1.