1 ANTIMICROBIALS TOPIC FACT SHEET What are antimicrobials? Antimicrobial products kill or slow the spread omicroorganisms. Micro- organisms include bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and ungi such as mold and mildew. 1 You may nd antimicrobial products in your home, work- place, or school. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates antimicrobial pr od uc ts as pesticides, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates antimicrobial products as drugs/antiseptics. As pesticides, anti- microbial products are used on objects such as countertops, toys, grocery carts, and hospital equipment. As antiseptics, antimicrobial products are used to treat or prevent diseases on people, pets, and other living things. Ia product shows “EPA” anywhere on the label, you know it’s a pesticide and NOT meant or use on the body. This act sheet will ocus on antimicrobials used as pesticides. Ia product label claims to kill, control, repel, mitigate or reduce a pest, it is a pesticide regulated by the U.S. EPA. 2 When manuacturers make this kind oclaim on the label, they must also include: application instructions that are eective at killing or controlling the pest, and • rst aid instructions, in case oaccidental exposure. • NPIC fact sheets are designed to answer questions that are commonly asked by the general public about pesticides that are regulated by the U.S. Environment al Protection Agency (US EPA). This document is intended to be educational in nature and helpful to consumers for making decisions about pesticide use. Pesticides Drugs & Antiseptics Used on sur aces, non-living things Used in or on living things Example: wipes or the ki tchen or bathroom Example: hand-sanitizing wipes Regulated by the U.S. EP A Regulated by the U.S. FDA MAY LOOK SIMILAR READ THE LABEL
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NPIC is a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(U.S. EPA). Data in NPIC documents are from selected authoritative and peer-reviewed literature. The informationin this publication does not in any way replace or supercede the restrictions, precautions, directions, or other
information on the pesticide label or any other regulatory requirements, nor does it necessarily reect the position
of the U.S. EPA.
Disinfectants kill or prevent the growth o bacteria and ungi. Some disinec-tants target specic viruses.5,7,8 Disinectants that kill microbes are called mi-
crobicides, but i they only stop microbial growth, without killing the microbe
they are called microbistats.9 Disinectants are the preerred public-health
antimicrobial or common suraces in medical settings. Disinectants are also
used in residential settings. Dierent products puriy swimming pools and
disinect household suraces such as linens, toilets, and bathtubs. Whether
disinectants are used in medical or residentials settings, or elsewhere, they
may not be used on suraces that come in contact with ood.
Sterilizers are the strongest type o public health antimicrobial product. In addi-tion to bacteria, algae, and ungi, they also control hard-to-kill spores.5 Many steril-
izers are restricted-use pesticides. These require applicator training and certica-
tion. Sterilizers are used in medical and research settings when the presence o
microbes must be prevented as much as possible. In addition to chemical steril-
izers, high-pressure steam and ovens are also used to sterilize items.5
Table 2. Three main types o public health antimicrobial pesticidesa
Sanitizer Disinfectant Sterilizer
Effective against 99.9% 100% 100%
bacteria• bacteria• bacteria•
ungi• ungi•
certain viruses• viruses•
spores•
Time required foreffectiveness
30 seconds - 5 minutes Generally 10 minutes Variable
Locations / Uses Household suraces Household suraces Medical instruments
Food contact suraces Medical settings Research supplies
Always ollow the label directions. The “Directions or Use” are specic, and the product may not
work i you don’t ollow them.
Never mix dierent anitmicrobial products.
Most antimicrobial products take time to work. Read the label to nd out how long the product must remain i
contact with the surace in order to sanitize, disinect or sterilize it.10
Dirt, ood, slime, and other particles may reduce the eectiveness o antimicrobial products. 10
Take steps to reduce your exposure to antimicrobial pesticides. Some products can be harmul when touched
inhaled.
References:
What are Antimicrobial Pesticides? . ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Oo Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/ad_ino.htm Website. (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.
Title 40, Part 152 - Pesticide Registration and Classication Procedures, Protection o the Environment; Code o Federal Regulation.
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cr/waisidx_10/40cr152_10.html. (accessed Dec 2010), updated 2007.
Anthrax Spore Decontamination Using Bleach (Sodium hypochlorite). ; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Oce o Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/actsheets/chemicals/bleachactshe
htm. (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.
Label Review Manual – Chapter 2: What is a Pesticide? . ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and To
Substances, Oce o Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/oppead1/labeling/lrm/chap-02.pd. (accessed Dec 2010), updated
2006.
Antimicrobial Pesticide Products. ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Oce
Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/actsheets/antimic.htm#types. (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.
Pesticide Labeling Questions & Answers. ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substance
Oce o Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/labels/label_review_aq.htm#subject. (accessed Dec 2010
updated Dec 2010.
Antimicrobial Products Registered or Use Against the H1N1 Flu and Other Infuenza A Viruses on Hard Suraces; U.S Environment.
Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Oce o Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/
oppad001/infuenza-disinectants.html, (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.
Selected EPA-registered Disinfectants. ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances,
Oce o Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/chemregindex.htm (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.
Gilbert, P.; McBain, A. J. Potential Impacts o Increased Use o Biocides in Consumer Products on Prevalence o Antibiotic Resistance.
Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 16, 2, 189-208.
Rutala, W. A.; Weber, D. J.0. Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Health Care Facilities, 2008. U.S. Center or DiseaseControl, Healthcare Inection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/Disinection_
Sterilization/4_0ecacyDS.html. (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.
Sanitizer Test for Inanimate Surfaces1. ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, O
o Pesticide Programs http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/dis_tss_docs/dis-10.htm. (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.