Hygiene Measures
To ensure patient protection, healthcare workers must consistently implement standard precautions, including surface disinfection, hand hygiene, and the reprocessing of medical devices.
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In disinfection, these terms describe the impairing effect a certain agent (active ingredient) has on populations of microorganisms. Activity/efficacy may refer to inhibition of growth, complete killing or inactivation.
- Activity
Activity describes the antimicrobial spectrum (e.g. bactericidal and yeasticidal activity). Generally, it is determined in suspension tests. Possible terms for activity: bactericidal, yeasticidal, fungicidal, mycobactericidal, tuberculocidal, virucidal against enveloped viruses, virucidal, sporicidal.
- Efficacy
The efficacy is tested for a certain type of application (e.g. surgical hand disinfection). It is determined in practical studies.
