Correct Use of Disinfectants —Based on the History of Disinfectants—

Abstract

 The history of the use of disinfectants is discussed, such as the beginning of use, and the understanding of use for the prevention of infection. In the 1840s, finger hygiene with chlorinated lime was initiated, which was replaced by the use of phenol or mercuric chloride. In the latter half of the 1870s, the cause of infection by microorganisms was demonstrated. Since then, the importance of disinfectants has become widely recognized. In 1990, advances in synthesis technology allowed many disinfectants to be synthesized, including those used at present. The ideas of Semmelweis IP and Lister J, who proposed the prevention of contact infection, continue to be the basis for the use of disinfectants. We describe the methods of finger hygiene, environmental disinfection, and instrument disinfection.