ABSTRACT

The antimicrobial effectiveness of five selected disinfectants (Dettol, Izal, Z-Germicide, Jik and hand sanitizer) was determined using agar diffusion (paper disc) method. Phenol coefficients were used to compare the effectiveness of these disinfectants against phenol. The test organisms used include Escherichia coli Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Candida albicans. The undiluted concenctrations of the disinfectants showed varying zones of inhibition against test organisms, on E. coli. it ranged from 47.50mm (Hand sanitizer) to 17.50mm (Izal) at (P<0.05. For the fungi, (Candida albicans), it has the zones of inhibitions of 9.50mm (Iza!) to 76mm (Jik). The result showed that Hand sanitizer EDN® was most effective against the test organisms than the other disinfectants. Izal recorded the least antimicrobial activities. The phenol coefficient values also showed that Hand sanitizer EDN®, followed by Dettol was better when compared with the other tested disinfectants. To ensure disinfectants efficacy, test should be carried out on new disinfectants products and also further studies should be carried out about disinfectants. Disinfectant for external uses is necessary to.avoid diseases caused by these test organisms><0.05), on S. aureus, 9.0mm (Izal), 36mm (Dettol) to 48.50mm(ZGermicide) and 52mm (hand sanitizer). Izal with zone of inhibition 9mm on S.aureus and Hand sanitizer (EDN®) withzoiie of unbition 52.50 on the same organism are significantly different at( P<0.05. For the fungi, (Candida albicans), it has the zones of inhibitions of 9.50mm (Iza!) to 76mm (Jik). The result showed that Hand sanitizer EDN® was most effective against the test organisms than the other disinfectants. Izal recorded the least antimicrobial activities. The phenol coefficient values also showed that Hand sanitizer EDN®, followed by Dettol was better when compared with the other tested disinfectants. To ensure disinfectants efficacy, test should be carried out on new disinfectants products and also further studies should be carried out about disinfectants. Disinfectant for external uses is necessary to.avoid diseases caused by these test organisms ><0.5) . For the fungi, (Candida albicans), it has the zones of inhibitions of 9.50mm (Izai) to 76mm (Jik). The result showed that Hand sanitizer EDN® was most effective against the test organisms than the other disinfectants. Izal recorded the least antimicrobial activities. The phenol coefficient values also showed that Hand sanitizer EDN®, followed by Dettol was better when compared with the other tested disinfectants. To ensure disinfectants efficacy, test should be carried out on new disinfectants products and also further studies should be carried out about disinfectants. Disinfectant for external uses is necessary to avoid diseases caused by these test organisms