The antimicrobial properties of alcohol were reported first for ethyl alcohol (EA) in 1888 and subsequently for isopropyl alcohol (IA) and N-propyl alcohol (NA) in 1904.1,2 Although alcoholic antimicrobial activity increases with increasing carbon chain length, these alcohols—also referred to as ethanol, isopropanol and N-propanol—are preferred for their solubility in water.2,3 The bactericidal activity of these […]
The antimicrobial effects of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) such as benzalkonium chloride were first described in the 1900s.1 Under laboratory conditions, benzalkonium chloride demonstrates decent activity against some bacteria, fungi and enveloped viruses; however, practical results are far less favorable.2,3 In light of the poor efficacy data available and despite numerous petitions to categorize the […]
Originally developed in England in 1954, chlorhexidine first became available in the United States on September 17, 1976, under the brand name Hibiclens®.1-3 Chlorhexidine alone is insoluble in water, so it is typically combined with glucuronic acid to form a chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) salt that is soluble in both water and alcohol.3,4 A membrane-active agent, […]