Thorough cleaning is required before high-level disinfection and sterilization because inorganic and organic materials that remain on the surfaces of instruments interfere with the effectiveness of these processes.

Low-level disinfection refers to the use of an agent that destroys all vegetative bacteria (except tubercle bacilli) and destroys most viruses - including Hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These agents are not effective against bacterial spores.

Some examples of intermediate disinfectants include water-based phenolics, alcohol-based phenolics, iodophors, sodium hypochlorites and other chlorine compounds, and alcohol-based quaternary ammonium compounds.

Hypochlorites, the most widely used of the chlorine disinfectants, are available as liquid (e.g., sodium hypochlorite) or solid (e.g., calcium hypochlorite).

Chlorination, ozone, ultraviolet light, and chloramines are primary methods for disinfection.

Isopropyl alcohol is excluded from classification as a high-level disinfectant because of its inability to eradicate bacterial spores and hydrophilic viruses such as polio. Its low-level categorization outlines effectiveness for noncritical patient care devices such as blood pressure cuffs.

Antiseptic wipes are more common in medical settings. They're mainly used to clean wounds before dressing. Alcohol wipes, on the other hand, are used to disinfect surfaces. You can't use alcohol wipes to clean cuts and wounds, as they'll sting.