Which of the following best explains why heat and alcohol are used to disinfect medical equipment?

• A. They act as antioxidants, preventing oxidation of the equipment.
• B. They neutralize acids and bases present on the equipment.
• C. They denature proteins and disrupt cell membranes of microorganisms, leading to cell death.
• D. They increase the pH of the equipment surface, making it inhospitable for microbes.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that disinfection involves killing or inactivating microorganisms to prevent infection.
2. Recognize that heat and alcohol are common disinfectants used because of their effects on microbial cells.
3. Recall that proteins are essential for cell structure and function, and disrupting them can lead to cell death.
4. Know that heat causes proteins to unfold or denature, losing their functional shape, while alcohol disrupts cell membranes and denatures proteins.
5. Conclude that the best explanation is that heat and alcohol denature proteins and disrupt cell membranes of microorganisms, leading to their death.