ABSTRACT

 The anti microbial activities of three commonly used disinfectants Septol, Dettol and Z-germicides against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida a/bicans were investigated. Their efficacy was determined using the agar diffusion method at different concentrations of the test disinfectants and their potency was tested against a standard (phenol) by using phenol coefficient tests. The use of Septol on E.coli and S.aureus showed weak bactericidal efficacy with a zone of inhibition of 30mm and 29mm at 1 00% concentrations as compared with the others, even at their in use dilutions, although it posses a high efficacy on C.albicans with a zone of inhibition of 75mm. Dettol and Z-germicides had equal inhibitory effects of 45mm on E.coli and S.aureus at 100% concentrations but Dettol was more effective, even at the in use dilutions as compared to Zgermicides, although S.aureus was observed to be the most susceptible to Z-germicides when used in higher concentrations. It was observed that as the concentration reduces, the susceptibility rates of the test organisms increases. The potency of the disinfectants against a standard disinfectant (phenol) showed that they were all effective than phenol with Dettol being the most potent/effective disinfectant as compared with Z-germicide and Septol. To ensure disinfectants efficacy, test should be carried out on new disinfectant products and also further studies should be carried out about disinfectants.