ARRT Patient Care Practice Exam

Hypochlorite bleach (Clorox) and Lysol are examples of:

1. Antiseptics

2. Bacteriostatics

3. Antifungal agents

4. Disinfectants

The correct answer is: Disinfectants

Hypochlorite bleach, commonly recognized by the brand Clorox, and Lysol are classified as disinfectants. Disinfectants are chemical agents used to destroy or inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms on surfaces and objects. They are intended for use on inanimate surfaces and are effective against a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. The action of these substances typically involves altering or destroying microbial cell structures, effectively rendering them inactive. This capability makes disinfectants essential in various environments such as hospitals, laboratories, and households, where controlling infection and maintaining cleanliness are crucial. In contrast, antiseptics are agents applied to living tissues to reduce the possibility of infection, while bacteriostatics are compounds that inhibit the growth of bacteria without necessarily killing them. Antifungal agents specifically target fungal infections, which would not apply to these products. Thus, the characteristic of hypochlorite bleach and Lysol as effective agents for sanitizing non-living surfaces clearly aligns them with the definition of disinfectants.