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Efficacy of common antiseptics against mycobacteria
1Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan. riki@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
Setting And Objective:
Antiseptics are frequently used to prevent mycobacterial infection; however, the reported activities of a number of antiseptics against mycobacteria are not always consistent. The aim of this study was to determine those antiseptics that are useful against mycobacteria.
Design:
Evaluation of antiseptic activity against mycobacteria in vitro.
Results:
The effects of different antiseptics on mycobacteria (Mycobacterium avium, M. kansasii and M. tuberculosis) were examined. At concentrations of 0.05%, povidone-iodine (PVP-I) killed 99% or more of all strains tested within 15 seconds, while 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate and 0.1% benzalkonium chloride showed no bactericidal activity against mycobacteria. M. kansasii and M. tuberculosis were killed after exposure to cresol for 60 seconds at concentrations of 1.0%, but M. avium was unaffected even after 60 seconds. While M. kansasii and M. tuberculosis were killed by treatment with 2.0% glutaraldehyde for 5 minutes, M. avium was highly resistant to this agent.
Conclusion:
PVP-I seems to be a useful antiseptic against mycobacteria. The measured activity of antiseptics should be interpreted carefully, due to the potential for interference by artifacts.