Table 59.3.

Different Methods of Disinfection With Examples

Methods of Disinfection	Example	Target	Application
HLD
Heat	Pasteurization (∼50 min)	All vegetative forms of microorganisms	•Heat-tolerant semicritical patient care items (respiratory therapy equipment)
Chemicals	Chemical sterilants	Gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, mycobacteria, lipid-enveloped viruses, large nonenveloped viruses, spores, cyst, trophozoite, coccidian	•Heat-sensitive semicritical patient care items (e.g., GI endoscopes, bronchoscopes)
ILD
Chemicals	EPA-registered with tuberculocidal activity (e.g., chlorine-based products, phenolics)	Gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, enveloped and nonenveloped viruses, mycobacteria	•Soiled noncritical items •Surfaces contaminated with blood •Devices contaminated with body fluid/feces/sputum/Mycobacterium
LLD
Chemicals	EPA registered but without tuberculocidal activity (e.g., chlorine-based products, phenolics, quaternary ammonium compounds, 70–90% alcohol)	Vegetative forms of bacteria, lipophilic viruses and some fungi	•Noncritical patient care items

EPA, Environmental Protection Agency; GI, gastrointestinal; HLD, high-level disinfectant; ILD, intermediate-level disinfectant; LLD, low-level disinfectant.