Microbicidal
Microbicidal describes agents or processes that kill microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The term distinguishes lethal effects from microbistatic actions, which merely inhibit growth. In practice, microbicidal activity is assessed by reduction of viable organisms under standardized conditions, and agents may be bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal, or sporicidal depending on their spectrum.
Microbicidal agents are used in disinfection, antisepsis, and sterilization. Disinfectants kill microorganisms on inanimate surfaces, while
Common mechanisms include disruption of cell membranes, denaturation of proteins, and damage to nucleic acids, leading
Examples of microbicidal substances include sodium hypochlorite (bleach), ethanol and isopropanol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine compounds, chlorhexidine,
Regulatory labeling often distinguishes microbicidal or sporicidal claims based on tested conditions. Microbicidal action does not