Which of the following statements is true? a. Quats are halogen-based disinfectants, while hypochlorite-based disinfectants are cationic detergents. b. Quats are considered high-level disinfectants, while hypochlorite-based disinfectants are not. c. Hypochlorite-based disinfectants are effective against a wider range of pathogens than quats. d. Quats are sporicidal, while hypochlorite-based disinfectants are not.

Answer:a. False

b. False

c. True

d. False

Explanation:Quats or Quaternary ammonium compounds are generally colourless, odorless, non irritating and deoderizing. They are good disinfectants and also have some detergent activity. They are generally ineffective against viruses, spores and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. They are basically not suitable for any terminal infection. They act on on protein and cell membrane of microorganisms.

Hypochlorite based disinfectants are chlorine contaiming compounds. They are good disinfectants on clean surfaces but are quickly inactivited by organic matter thus reducing its biocidal activity. They are effective against wide range of bacteria, fungi, enveloped viruses and non-enveloped viruses. The free available chlorine combines with the content within organisms, thus killing it.