What must a germicidal agent be able to kill or inactivate to be classified as an intermediate-level disinfectant?

A germicidal agent must be capable of killing or inactivating Mycobacterium tuberculosis to be classified as an intermediate-level disinfectant. This classification is significant because M. tuberculosis is a highly resistant bacterium and is a primary concern in healthcare settings due to its prevalence as a cause of tuberculosis. Intermediate-level disinfectants are expected to provide a broad spectrum of pathogen control, including mycobacteria, which necessitates a higher efficacy than that required for standard disinfectants.

Other pathogens like HIV and Hepatitis B are indeed important in terms of disinfection protocols, but they do not present the same level of resistance as M. tuberculosis, which is why the ability to inactivate M. tuberculosis is a defining factor for intermediate-level disinfectants. While Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacteria that can be addressed with lower-level disinfectants, it does not meet the criteria for this classification compared to the robust nature of M. tuberculosis.