Disinfectants are chemical substances that are designed to eliminate or reduce the presence of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, on surfaces or objects. They are applied to prevent the spread of infections and maintain hygiene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Antibacterial Activities of some commercially sold Chemical Disinfectants on Bacterial Isolates. A total of eight (8) popular brands of disinfectant locally available and used in Port Harcourt were chosen for the study. They were Dettol, Savlon, Hypochlorite, Purit, Septol, Premier, Tetmosol and Izal. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Proteus spp were the test organisms used in the study. In assessing the antimicrobial susceptibility of the test organisms to the chemical disinfectants, the agar disc diffusion method and direct inoculation method were employed. Also, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of the chemical disinfectants were determined by a series of increasing concentrations (ranging from 5% to 100%, in 5% increments) of each disinfectant in sterile nutrient broth tubes, each containing 9 ml. Data generated from the study showed that Dettol, Salvon, Purit, Hypochlorite, Septol, Tetmosol and Premier disinfectant in their adequate concentration are very effective antibacterial disinfectants against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus spp. However, the study has also shown that Izal is not an effective antibacterial disinfectant against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus spp. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the selected disinfectants against the isolates showed that Dettol, Salvon, Purit, Hypochlorite, Septol, Tetmosol and Premier disinfectant had the highest percentages of 90% using 1:10 dilution. This indicates their high efficacy against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus spp while Izal disinfectant was the least with 0% MIC using 1:10 dilution. In the realm of infection prevention and control, the effectiveness of disinfectants is paramount. However, determining the true efficacy of these chemical warriors involves a systematic and rigorous process. The use of reliable and effective chemical disinfectants should be encouraged as a preventive measure against infectious diseases. Also, adherence to use of adequate concentration of these chemical disinfectants should be emphasized as dilution of these disinfectants before use is becoming a norm and less effective.
Keywords: Bacteria, Disinfectants, Antimicrobials, Susceptibility