Difference Between Antiseptic and Disinfectant

Main Difference

The main difference between Antiseptic and Disinfectant is that Antiseptic is the chemical agent that we apply on the living tissues, whereas Disinfectant is the chemical agent that we apply on the non-living materials.

Antiseptic vs. Disinfectant

An antiseptic is considered to be applied to the body. Disinfectants, on the other hand, are considered to be applied to the nonliving materials like handrails and countertops.

During surgery, an antiseptic is applied by the doctor to the surgical site on a person’s body; on the flip side, a disinfectant is used to sterilize the operating table. Antiseptics generally have a lower concentration of biocides as compared to the disinfectants.

Antiseptics are referred to as harmless chemical agents for humans and animals; on the other side, disinfectants are referred to as harmful chemical agents for humans and animals. Antiseptics play an important role in destroying and killing the microorganisms inhabiting on living tissues. Disinfectants, on the flip side, are involved in inhibiting the growth of microorganisms at the surfaces on which they are applied.

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What is Antiseptic?

An antiseptic is considered as an antimicrobial substance that is applied by people to open wounds. It is believed that its usage lessens the risks of infection and is also involved in minimizing the possibility of a lot of other complications. Because of the medicinal properties of antiseptics, they have the ability to enter the lymphatic system of the patient and destroy the bacteria that are present within the body.

We generally find antiseptics in the healthcare centers and hospitals for cleaning purposes. There are a lot of uses of antiseptics that include the cleaning of wounds, the preparation of a site before a surgical procedure, or an injection. They also have a usage in disinfecting the furniture surfaces and the instruments.

Antiseptics are suggested as harmless chemical agents for humans and animals. They are involved in cleaning surgical sites and wounds so that we can prevent them from infection and other complications. In hospitals, antiseptics are used by medical professionals for hand scrubs and rubs.

An antiseptic is referred to as a safe chemical agent. But if we left the diluted antiseptics on the skin for long periods of time, then it can cause irritation. We called this type of irritation as the irritant contact dermatitis.

What is Disinfectant?

Disinfectants are considered as the chemical substances that are applied to non-living objects or surfaces to get rid of micro-organisms by inhibiting their growth. They are involved in sterilizing the surfaces to prevent the spreading of bacteria and germs to people. They are mainly used for cleaning purposes in kitchens, bathrooms, and floors.

Disinfectants are not considered as safe chemical agents. The disinfectant like hydrogen peroxide is used in health care settings and also in the hospitals for cleaning rooms and surgery tools. Bleaches, oxidizing agents, and alcohols are considered as the most common disinfectants. It is referred to as that we may not eliminate all the micro-organisms by the disinfectants.

It becomes difficult to kill the micro-organisms that become resistant to the disinfectants. In this condition, disinfectants are only involved in the reduction of the micro-organisms to a certain level so that they could not bring harm to the quality of the perishable products and also to the health of the people. For maximum results, we use the disinfectants of higher concentration. They are referred to as very toxic and injurious chemical agents when we apply them to living tissues.

Key Differences

1. The chemical agent that we can apply on the living tissues is known as an antiseptic agent, whereas the chemical agent that we can apply on the non-living materials is known as a disinfectant.
2. Hospitals or the healthcare centers are the common places at which antiseptics are present; on the other hand, public places or homes are the common places at which disinfectants are present.
3. Antiseptics are involved in cleaning surgical sites and wounds so that we can prevent them from infection and other complications; on the flip side, disinfectants are involved in inhibiting the growth of microorganisms that exist at the surfaces of non-living things.
4. Antiseptics consist of the cold sore, mouthwash, and the creams that are involved in the treatment of yeast infection: on the other side, disinfectants contain the products that are involved in the cleaning of houses and public places.
5. The transportation of antiseptics occurs through the lymphatic system, and thus they destroy bacteria that are present within the human body: on the other hand, disinfectants are considered to interfere with the metabolism of the microbes that are present on the surface of the tangible objects or are involved in the destruction of the cell wall of microorganisms.
6. Antiseptics are the chemical agents that are considered to be used in humans and animals, while disinfectants are the chemical agents that are considered to be used for the non-living materials like furniture and the other items of our houses.
7. Antiseptics are the chemical agents that are referred to as harmless chemical agents for humans and animals: on the flip side, disinfectants are the chemical agents that are referred to as harmful chemical agents for humans and animals.
8. An antiseptic is referred to as a safe chemical agent; on the other hand, disinfectants are not considered as safe chemical agents.

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Conclusion

All of the above discussion concludes that antiseptic is the chemical agent that we generally apply on the living tissues, on the other hand, disinfectant is the chemical agent that we generally apply on the non-living materials. The former is considered to be used in humans and animals, on the flip side, the latter is considered to be used for the non-living materials like furniture and the other items of our houses.