Disinfection consists of eliminating those microorganisms capable of causing an infection.
In order to know the meaning of the term disinfection , it is necessary to discover, first of all, its etymological origin. In this case, we can state that it is a word that derives from Latin since it is the result of the sum of two components of that language:
-The prefix “des-”, which is used to indicate reversal of the action.
-The noun “infectio”, which means “invasion and development of a parasite within the body.
When a person disinfects something, they remove an infection or eliminate the possibility of it developing. This is achieved thanks to the destruction of pathogenic agents that have the ability to invade a surface and multiply on it.
Disinfection concept
Disinfection , therefore, is a process that kills the microorganisms that cause infections , such as viruses or bacteria . The product that allows this result is known as a disinfectant .
Infectious agents are often found on objects such as tables, doors, pillows, coats, etc. The application of a disinfectant serves to prevent the development of an infection, since it eliminates microorganisms before they can affect humans .
Within the healthcare area, to mention one case, disinfection is essential to avoid health problems in workers and also in patients. Thus, for example, the need to undertake high-level disinfection is established, especially in respiratory therapy equipment, in anesthesia circuits, in bronchoscopes...
An alcohol and water solution can be used for hand disinfection.
Different types of procedures
If physical procedures are used, we have to establish that there are two disinfection methods:
-Disinfection through heat, which also responds to the name pasteurization. It basically consists of keeping the liquid used at a temperature of approximately 65º for at least 15 minutes.
-Disinfection with ultraviolet rays, which significantly reduce the microbial load.
The disinfectant products that can be used are divided into three distinct groups:
-Low level, which eliminates only part of the pathogens.
-Medium level, which manage to kill some viruses, fungi and even bacterial spores.
-High level. These products stand out for being toxic and even very irritating. Likewise, it is worth highlighting the fact that they kill all types of microorganisms.
Alcohol , for example, is a product that is used to disinfect. If a woman buys metal hoops (earrings) that are placed across the earlobe, it is advisable to disinfect them with alcohol to take care of her health.
Water disinfection
In water , on the other hand, various types of pathogens can exist. That is why it is important to disinfect it through some physical or chemical method.
Boiling water, for example, allows physical disinfection . If you opt for chemical disinfection , it is possible to add chlorine or bleach ( bleach ).
The concept in computing
In the field of computing , finally, disinfection consists of eliminating malicious programs called viruses .
A virus can infect a computer (a computer) and delete data or affect, in various ways, the normal functioning of the system. The user, in this situation, can use antivirus software to carry out the necessary disinfection.