What do tuberculocidal disinfectants kill?

Tuberculocidal disinfectants are specifically formulated to target and kill bacteria that cause tuberculosis, which is a serious infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs but can also impact other parts of the body. These disinfectants contain active ingredients that are effective against mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis.

While tuberculocidal disinfectants are potent and can also exert some effect on various other types of bacteria, their primary function is to ensure the destruction of tuberculosis-causing organisms, making them crucial for infection control in environments where the risk of spreading TB exists, such as healthcare facilities.

The focus of these disinfectants is not on fungi, viruses, or other pus-forming bacteria, which are handled by different types of disinfectants with broader or different efficacy. Thus, the correct understanding of the role of tuberculocidal disinfectants centers on their specificity for bacteria responsible for tuberculosis.