Antimicrobial Efficiency of Commonly Used Disinfectants against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus
Ejimofor, Chiamaka Frances
Department of Biological Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Nwakoby, Nnamdi Enoch
Department of Microbiology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Oledibe, Odira Johnson
Department of Botany, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Afam-Ezeaku, Chikaodili Eziamaka *
Department of Botany, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Mbaukwu, Onyinye Ann
Department of Botany, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Three different types of disinfectants that are frequently employed in regular laboratories include ethanol, bleach, and phenols. This study used the agar hole diffusion method to examine the effectiveness of these three disinfectants against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Different bleach, ethanol, and phenolic concentrations were utilized. There were variations in the measured concentrations because the disinfectants' initial concentrations varied. The results after 24 hours of incubation at 37°C demonstrated that all the disinfectants in their concentrated forms prevented the development of the test organism. When different quantities of the inhibitors were used, their efficacy varied, and the width of the zone of inhibitions around each well was determined in millimeters.
The findings revealed that bleach had a stronger impact on Staphylococcus aureus than Escherichia coli, while ethanol showed the least susceptibility. Phenolics had the highest efficiency against both test species.
Keywords: Antimicrobial efficiency, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, phenolic concentrations