Phenolics Phenolics are considered to be ILD and their main value, is in their capability of destroying TB causing bacteria. Another advantage of using phenolics is their ability to tolerate moderate loads of organic contamination without a loss in their germicidal activity. They are generally used at 500 ppm of active chlorinated phenol. However the use of phenolics poses certain disadvantages. Phenolics have a tendency to be absorbed by rubber and by some plastics and therefore can not be used on all surfaces.
Phenolics are relatively toxic and difficult to dispose off in an environmentally sound manner.
Iodophors attach themselves to vital bacterial proteins and inactivate them. The carrier provides a sustained-release reservoir of iodine as needed, to maintain a given concentration of iodine in solution. For disinfection or disinfection-cleaning in a health care facility, iodophors are generally used at a concentration that will provide 75 ppm of available iodine. Iodine solutions also function at a low pH, and for this reason also facilitate the removal of hard water deposits from surfaces. The main application of iodophors in a health care facility is in their use in topical applications and as germicidal hand cleansers and germicidal hand dips.