evaluation of the clinical efficacy of quaternary ammonium components (qac) as surface disinfectant

statement of problem: surface disinfection is an important aspect of infection control in dentistry. a new generation of quaternary ammonium components (qacs) is gaining popularity as high-level disinfectants. two types of qac sprays, uniseptaquick and solarsept, are being widely used by iranian dentists. purpose: the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficiency of unisepta quick and deconex solarsept sprays against a number of selected microorganisms. materials and methods: in this experimental single-blind study, unisepta quick and solarsept sprays were examined using 15 specimens for standard and resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus aureous, salmonella typhimurium, bacillus subtilis, mycobacterium bovis and trichophyton mentagrophytes. test surfaces consisted of high-speed handpieces which were contaminated with suspensions of the microorganisms. cultivation and incubation were performed and bacterial counts (colony forming unit) were obtained. data were analyzed using fisher’s exact, chi-square and mann–whitney u-tests. results: unisepta quick and deconex solarsept showed bactericidal effects on pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus aureous, mycobacterium, and salmonella typhimurium and demonstrated fungicidal effects on trichophyton mentagrophytes. however, neither of them had a significant effect on bacillus subtilis and resistant-pseudomonas aeruginosa. conclusion: deconex solarsept and unisepta quick are effective against all tested microorganisms, except bacillus subtilis and resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa; therefore they can be classified as intermediate-level disinfectants.