Below is a list of terms and definitions with which you should become familiar. They will prove helpful when customizing a sanitation/disinfection program:

• Antiseptic - A product that destroys micro-organisms or retards their rate of growth. Usually applied to living tissue such as applying antiseptic to hatchlings navels.

• Biostatic - Inhibits the growth and prevents further contamination of disease-causing pathogens but does not necessarily Hill them. Biostats should be used regularly to keep disease-causing organisms under control.
• Vegetative - A passive state of development when the bacteria is not producing.

• Spores - Certain bacteria form spores, more in the nature of a defense mechanism, than for reproduction. Spores of bacteria are difficult to destroy because they are resistant to heat and require prolonged exposure to high temperatures to destroy them.

• Enveloped or lipophilic viruses - Surrounded by a lipid or fat coat. These viruses are less stable in the environment and more susceptible to disinfection.

• Unenveloped, hydrophilic or capsid viruses - A virus with a protein coat around its central core, which protects the virus and makes it more resistant to disinfectants.

• Disinfection - To disinfect means to destroy infective agents, namely bacteria, viruses, and fungi. A disinfectant destroys disease-causing germs and pathogens by chemical or physical means. The EPA grants a disinfectant claim to any solution which will destroy Staph aureus, Pseudomonas aerginosa, and Salmonella, choleraesius using an official AOAC procedure. Label claims do not include efficacy against bacterial spores or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It does not imply efficacy against viruses either. It is important that disinfection take place during the final phase of the sanitation process.
  • High-level disinfectant - Capable of killing all microorganisms and is equivalent to sterilization when contact is long enough and efficacy of solution is maintained.

  • Intermediate-level disinfectant - Kills all vegetative bacteria, fungi, tuberculosis bacilli and most viruses.

  • Low-level disinfectant - Destroys vegetative bacteria and fungus and most enveloped viruses.

• Soaps and Detergents - Compounds designed to cut through grease and dirt so water can help dissolve and wash away debris--hot water generally increases the effect of any cleaning agent. Soap and hot water is the first step in a sanitation program.

• Sterilization - The complete and total destruction of all micro-organisms, including bacteria, spores, fungi and viruses. Sterilization may be accomplished by chemical or physical means. Physical agents are heat, light, ionizing radiation, and filtration. Chemical means can be accomplished by using a high-level disinfectant. Complete sterilization can rarely, if ever be achieved in the sanitation of avian enviromnents, although that is the aim. Solutions classified by the EPA as "Chemical Sterilization Solutions" are those containing chemicals such as gluteraldehyde (Wavicide-l), and hydrogen peroxide. A periodic sterilization of all equipment and utensils is recommended as a precaution against disease outbreaks. When disease outbreaks do occur sterilization is mandatory to eradicate infectious organisms.

• Sanitation - The reduction of the number of bacterial contaminants to a safe level. A product labeled as a sanitizer is not concentrated enough or in contact with pathogens long enough to achieve disinfection Sanitizers reduce microorganism contamination to a safe level but does not eradicate. This level is determined by federal health and hygiene requirements (when used as directed). Sanitizers are useful in an aviary and nursery sanitation program.

• Germicide (Bactericide) - Kills specific types of pathogenic microorganisms when used as directed. The labels on these agents make minimum claims, excluding for example Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Carefully read labels. A germicide does not automatically kill spores, viruses, tuberculosis or funguses. Since bactericides are specific, they are useful when pathogens are identified.

• Virucide - An agent which kills certain specified types of viruses when used as directed. Some viruses are easy to destroy while others are very hard to kill. For this reason the EPA requires that the label on virucidal solutions specify each individual organism that has been killed according to official AOAC procedures recognized by the EPA. Also useful in eradicating identified viruses.

Sometimes it is necessary to use several types of disinfectants and cleaning procedures to effectively reduce the numbers of existing organisms. When describing an agent's affect on a type of micro-organism, the suffix '-stat' means that it prevents the multiplication of an organism and '-cide' means it kills that organism (Sainsbury,D and Sainsbury,P. (1988). Livestock Health and Housing. 3rd ed. Baillere Tindall, London) Example: a bactericide kills bacteria; a fungicide, fungi and a virucide, viruses.

Bacteria and fungi should not be a problem in an aviary or nursery which follows good hygiene practices. Viruses, on the other hand, are difficult to control without disinfectants. Disinfectants are a valuable part of any disease management program, but they do not replace the use of sound hygiene practices. Disinfectants are important, but must be used sensibly. When used in combination with good husbandry practices, disinfectants can prevent dangerous disease outbreaks.

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Developing Your Sanitation Program
Disinfectants
Guidelines to Proper Disinfection

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