ABSTRACT
This chapter will provide an introduction to disinfection and preservation and will review the following:
The disinfection capabilities of surfactants and other agents Methodologies available to test their efficacy Antibacterial household products The principles of preservation and how it is measured
A. Introduction to Disinfection Disinfection is defined as a process that greatly reduces or eliminates viable microorganisms on nonliving surfaces. It is to be distinguished from antisepsis, which is the same process but applied on living tissue, such as human skin. Neither should be confused with sterilization, which consists of the total destruction of microorganisms, including spores.
