How to apply DISINFECTANTS AND ANTISEPTICS effectively and safely

The use of antiseptics and disinfectants in the veterinary industry is indispensable for the process of rearing, caring, preventing and treating diseases for livestock. This is a group of drugs with strong bactericidal effects on both livestocks and users. Therefore, the safe and effective use of these groups of medicine will be disscussed in the following article.

What is antiseptics?

Antiseptics are defined as active substances that kill or inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms without affecting the host. In a simpler term, they kill harmful microorganisms on the skin. Therefore, antiseptics are often used on:

  • Flesh wounds, stomatitis, nail inflammation, blisters, ... on animals
  • Female animals' uterus or other vaginal regions...

What is antiseptics

Disinfectants, on the other hand, are used to kill germs on nonliving surfaces. They can also be used in cases of snake bites or detoxifying substances such as strychnin, morphine, atropine,.. or on tools, equipment, protective clothing, transportations, ..

  • Disinfect hands and surgical instruments before and after surgery.
  • Disinfect barns
  • Disinfect some machinery used in livestock production such as incubators,...
  • Carcass disposal

Principles of using disinfectants and antiseptics effectively and safely

In order to get the best results, these principles should be ensured:

  • It is necessary to clean the environment and tools before disinfecting. The remaining dust and dirt can create a mechanical film that prevents the drug from affecting microorganisms and reducing the effectiveness of the drug.
  • It takes time for the drug to take effect, so it is important to pay attention to the time of effect duration of the active ingredient according to the instructions from the manufacturer.
  • Selecting disinfectants with the right active ingredients for each pathogen.
  • Keep out of reach of CHILDREN
  • For animal use only

Instructions of use

On the market today, there are quite a few product lines used with different active ingredients. Some have been used for a long time, some relatively new ones are being researched. However, there are seven most commonly used, which will be discussed below:

- Iodine alcohol

  • As an antiseptic widely used in veterinary medicine, iodized alcohol is often used to disinfect injection sites, wounds, incisions, ulcers,… to treat inflammatory diseases. Iodine alcohol is usually used with a concentration of 0.1-10%, (mixed with a solution of iodine in 90o alcohol) depending on the purpose of use.
  • Iodine alcohol solution is often used by rubbing directly on the skin of cattle or douching livestocks’ genitals in the solution for the treatment of metritis and vaginitis. This preparation should be carried out in a cool, dry place and avoid exposure to heat sources, sunlight or toxic chemicals.

- White alcohol

White alcohol is an antiseptic used in veterinary medicine with a number of functions such as:

  • Sterile surgical equipments such as knives, scissors, needles,… or injection site, surgical site, disinfect wounds, pimples... on the livestocks’ body.
  • Sanitize hands before surgery.

White alcohol

White alcohol is rubbed directly on the skin or flesh wounds (using 70o alcohol). In case of disinfecting instruments, it is necessary to soak veterinary instruments in a glass basin with white alcohol. To ensure the white alcohol’s efficacy, the product needs to be stored in accordance with the instructions from the manufacturer.

- Purple Potion

  • Known as an antiseptic with strong bactericidal effect, disinfecting and creating a barrier film. Cyanin is currently being applied in the treatment of abscesses, infected wounds, ulcers or gangrene. In addition, potassium permanganate is also used in the treatment of metritis, mastitis in swine, cattle and disinfecting the barn, equipments and tools.
  • Cyanide is usually used with a concentration of 1% by applying directly on wounds or incisions. In case of uterine and vaginal inflammation, potassium permanganate will be used in the form of douching.

- Methylene blue

  • Methylene blue is used mainly as a surgical antiseptic for infected wounds or warts, foot-and-mouth disease. They can be used as an injectable, administer intravenously, slow subcutaneously to treat cassava poisoning in cattle.

- Lime powder

Lime powder

  • A strong antiseptic with the ability to eliminate bacteria such Pyogenic cocci, Streptococci, E.coli, Bacilli,... that cause pasteurellosis, paratyphoid…. Powdered lime is sprinkled around barns, breeding sites, sewages…. Lime Powder should be put on dead animals with existing infectious diseases to stop the disease from spreading.

- Chloramine B

  • Chloramin B is widely used for its antiseptic potency, detoxification quality and its ability to kill almost every type of aerobic, anaerobic bacteria, molds and viruses. Used primarily in the form of spray solution, Chloramin B is sprayed to disinfect barns, equipments and breeding sites, especially in areas where viral infections are frequent or on going. It can also be used in the disposal of dead animals.
  • Chloramin B is also used in aquaculture to treat the water source to prevent fungal and bacterial diseases.

- Benzalkonium chloride

  • This is an active ingredient that has a cleaning and disinfecting effect. Besides being used to disinfect barn, benzakidium is also used for on shallow and deep wounds or livestocks’ vaginal region. It is important to bear in mind that each effect will have a different concentration. Therefore, it is necessary to read the instruction on the dosage for the type of condition that the sick is suffering from.

Sanfovet’s antiseptic products

- GLUDEKOL

Highly effective for disinfection should epidemics occur:

  • African Swine cholera, F.M.D, Aujeszky’s disease, viral hepatitis, Avian influenza, Marek, Newcastle disease, Streptococcus, typhoid, Parvovirus, Rotavirus, Coliform, Gumboro virus, smallpox, C.R.D, O.R.T, I.B, I.L.T, P.R.R.S, Haemophillus influenzae, dysentery, diarrhea ... in cattle and poultry.

- BENCOVET

  • has a broad spectrum of bactericidal effect and is highly effective against all pathogenic bacteria such as Paratyphoid, Haemorrhagic septicemia, anthrax, Lepto, Mycoplasma as well as fungi or viruses that cause avian influenza (H5N1, H7N9,…), Gumboro diseases, Marek’s diseases, chicken pox, duck cholera, viral hepatitis, C.R.D, typhoid, dysentery, F.M.D, P.R.R.S, A.S.F (african swine fever), T.G.E, Aujeszky’s diseases, Parvo virus’ diseases, swine flu (H1N1)…

- VIA.IODINE

  • is a broad-spectrum, topical antiseptic and microbicide used to remove germs from the skin, from mucous membranes, equipment, tools... in the farm. It effectively kills both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and viruses when used as instructed. It is also useful against fungi and protozoa.

- AMONICID

  • is a potent with long lasting effect antiseptic that kills all viruses, bacteria, spores, fungi and molds.
  • has wider spectrum of diseases control compared to other disinfectants.
  • safe, non-toxic, easy to use and economical.
  • does not corrode the surface when diluted.
  • its biocidal activity doesn't wear off in the presence of organic matter.
  • maintains its effectiveness at any temperature.

- ALPHA 60F EC 

  • is a potent bug’s and insect’s repellent which prevents and kills flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, aphids, ants in the barn or within the house. ALPHA 60F EC also kills ticks, scabies, fleas, chicken mites, beetles, termites, larvae underwater… on animals, helps preventing PPRS, foot-and-mouth disease, cholera, blood parasites…

On the article is all the useful information related to the principle of using antiseptics in veterinary medicine and common groups of antiseptics so that they are effective and safe for breeders as well as domesiticated animals.