Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ("Quats") are Used For

Question

Quaternary ammonium compounds ("quats") are used for
A) antisepsis.
B) disinfection.
C) sterilization.
D) quantifying antimicrobial activity.
E) both antisepsis and disinfection.

Accepted Answer

Quaternary ammonium compounds are commonly used for disinfection, which refers to the elimination of most pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate objects. They are effective against a wide range of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, but may not completely eliminate all microbial spores, thus not suitable for sterilization.