Comparação na avaliação microbiológica de dois desinfetantes de uso doméstico no Brasil pelos métodos recomendados pela AOAC e ECN

Surface disinfectants are considered a major tool for preventing the spread of infections in human populations. Changes in the Brazilian law in 2007 allowed the use of various methodologies to evaluate the microbiological quality of surface disinfectants, warranting studies of the efficacy and application of other methodologies, such as those recommended by European Committee of Normalization (ECN). The present study aimed to establish the application of ECN methodologies for assessment of general use disinfectants. The use–dilution (UD) method recommended by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) and the European Standard 1276 from ECN were performed in parallel, and the anti-microbial actions of two quaternary ammonium compounds (products A and B) and 70% ethanol solution were compared using reference microorganisms and two strains isolated from household environments. According to the UD method, all products were effective, except that product B was ineffective against Staphylococcus aureus and gave non-reproducible results. The ECN method indicated that all products were effective, except that product A produced inadequate neutralization of S. aureus. Although the ECN method showed efficacy and applicability to the Brazilian routine, assays with greater number of products are required.