区别还是很显著的,在这个指南里面给予了比较:
Antiseptic: Typically an antiseptic is a chemical agent that is applied to living tissue to kill microbes. Note that not all disinfectants are antiseptics because an antiseptic additionally must not be so harsh that it damages living tissue. Antiseptics are less toxic than disinfectants used on inanimate objects. Due to the lower toxicity, antiseptics can be less active in the destruction of normal and any pathogenic flora present.
Disinfectant: A germicide that inactivates virtually all recognized pathogenic microorganisms but not necessarily all microbial forms. They may not be effective against bacterial spores.
2008年美国CDC发布的《Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in HealthcareFacilities (2008)》中提到了二个单词:disinfectant 和 antiseptic。
CDC指南中的解释是这样的:
disinfectant :用于无生命物体的消毒剂。这个不能用于活体组织,因为对皮肤和组织有损伤。
antiseptic:用于活组织或皮肤的消毒剂,不适用于物体表面。