Spectrum of activity

Microorganisms are very diverse therefore it is difficult to find a disinfectant that is effective against all of them. The microorganisms against which a disinfectant is effective are therefore always stated on the product as the so-called spectrum of efficacy.

The following applies to bacteria:

• A disinfectant with a bactericidal spectrum of activity is effective against vegetative bacteria, i.e. bacteria with an active metabolism. The activity is independent of whether it is a Gram-positive or a Gram-negative bacterium, it is also independent of antibiotic resistance.
• A disinfectant with tuberculocidal activity, is effective against the cause of tuberculosis: Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• If the spectrum of activity is specified as mycobactericidal, the disinfectant is also effective against other mycobacteria in addition to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• For bacterial spores, sporicidal activity is required. Spores are resistant forms that can be formed by some bacteria such as Clostridioides difficile. These have no active metabolism and are very resistant to external influences.

The following applies to fungi:

• A disinfectant with a yeasticidal spectrum of activity is effective against yeast such as Candida albicans.
• A disinfectant with a fungicidal spectrum of activity is effective against yeasts such as Candida ssp. as well as against all other fungi such as Aspergillus and its spores.

The following applies to viruses:

• The spectrum of activity called “virucidal activity against enveloped viruses” indicates that the disinfectant is only effective against enveloped viruses. These include, for example, the HI virus, the corona and the influenza virus.
• If a disinfectant has limited spectrum virucidal activity, it is also effective against the 3 non-enveloped viruses: adenovirus, norovirus and rotavirus, in addition to enveloped viruses.
• If the activity of a disinfectant is specified as virucidal, the disinfectant is effective against enveloped and all non-enveloped viruses. In addition to adeno-/noro- and rotaviruses, this also includes e.g. polio and parvoviruses.