View source for Disinfection and antiseptics

== Oxidizing agents ==
The effect of a number of disinfectants and antiseptics is based on the oxidizing action of their components. This damages the proteins of microorganisms, their [[biological membranes]] and possibly also [[nucleic acids]].

'''Hydrogen peroxide''' is used as a 3% aqueous solution. The release of molecular oxygen upon contact with tissues also contributes to the mechanical cleaning of the disinfected area. '''Potassium permanganate''' also has an antibacterial and fungicidal effect. '''Peroxyacetic acid''' (Persteril&reg;), which is also used at a [[dezinfekce a sterilizace#vyšší stupeň dezinfekce|higher level of disinfection]], has strong disinfecting effects ..

Oxidizing properties are probably also involved in the effect of '''iodine''', although the mechanism of its action has not yet been reliably explained. Iodine dissolves poorly in water and is not very stable in solution, so it is used either in the form of an ethanol solution (''iodine tincture'') or, more often today, bound to [[polyvinylpyrrolidone]]. A complex (''iodopovidone''), is formed, which releases free iodine into the solution. Iodine is among the most effective antiseptics used to disinfect [[skin]], mucous membranes and wounds.

A number of substances containing chlorine also have oxidizing properties (e.g. '''[[chloramine B]]''', '''hypochlrites''' – known as Savo&reg; atd.). Chlorine itself is also used to disinfect water, which gives hypochloric acid after dissolution; it also has oxidizing effects, it is easily reduced to chlorides, or back to molecular chlorine.