The bactericidal activities of 35 commercially available disinfectants against vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and vancomycin-sensitive enterococci (VSE) were investigated under both clean and dirty (albumin added) conditions using a microtitration plate method. No differences in bactericidal time were observed with any of the test disinfectants when comparing activity against VRE or VSE. Isopropyl alcohol (70 v/v%), alcohol-containing preparations such as Welpas(R), Wellup(R) and Maskin(R) W (.) ethanol solution, 0.2% of cation surfactant disinfectants such as Osvan(R) solution 'daigo', Germitol(R) 'Maruishi' 10% and Hyamine solution, and 0.5% of amphoteric compound disinfectants such as TEGO-51(R) Hygieel(R) and Hypal(R) No.3, were the most effective compounds when compared with other disinfectants. These results suggest that the use of a disinfectant with activity against VRE may be one appropriate method for preventing infections caused by this micro-organism. (C) 2002 The Hospital Infection Society.