Antiseptics are compounds that act to counteract sepsis, which is an illness caused by a bacterial infection of the blood. Antiseptics are able to counteract sepsis by preventing the growth of pathogenic (disease causing) microorganisms. An antiseptic may kill a microorganism, but it does not necessarily have to. The treated microbes may only be weakened. The weaker, slower growing microbes may then be more susceptible to the defense mechanisms of the host.

The terms antiseptic and disinfectant are used almost interchangeably nowadays. Yet they do have different meanings. An antiseptic is a chemical or technique that is used on people. A disinfectant is a chemical that is applied to an inanimate object or surface to get rid of microorganisms. An antiseptic generally does not have the same potency as a disinfectant. Otherwise, the chemical would harm the tissues it is in contact with. For this reason, an antiseptic...