Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

2.3K
The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
2.3K
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control01:27

Chemical Agents for Microbial Control

1.6K
Chemicals play important roles in controlling microbial growth by targeting microbial structures and functions as sanitizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, and sterilants.Alcohols are commonly used sanitizers, effectively disrupting lipid membranes, which compromises cell integrity. They are also used as antiseptics and disinfectants due to their rapid action and versatility.Phenols and their derivatives phenolics , known for denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, are particularly...
1.6K
Production of Biopesticides01:18

Production of Biopesticides

92
Biopesticides offer a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, utilizing microbial agents to control agricultural pests. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a widely employed bacterium known for its potent insecticidal activity. Bt biopesticides are favored for their specificity to insect pests, minimal environmental impact, and natural degradability.Mechanism of Bt Toxin Action Bt produces insecticidal crystal (Cry) proteins during its sporulation phase. These proteins form parasporal...
92
Biological Methods for Microbial Control01:28

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

1.4K
Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
1.4K
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides

72
Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...
72
Hand hygiene01:23

Hand hygiene

5.1K
Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...
5.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Hygiene and virucidal interventions in Ebola virus (Bundibugyo virus) and hantavirus (Andes virus) infection control: Translating laboratory evidence into practice.

American journal of infection control·2026
Same author

Dynamics of respiratory virus spread indoors suggest a holistic approach for exposure risk mitigation.

Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology : ASHE·2025
Same author

Virucidal Efficacy of Organic Acids and Plant Essential Oils.

Food and environmental virology·2025
Same author

Persistence of Infectivity of Different Enteroviruses on a Surrogate Fomite: Correlation with Clinical Case Incidence.

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

Fomite workshop recommendations addressing the role of surfaces in virus transmission in the built environment.

mSphere·2025
Same author

Brazilian and Mexican propolis and their possible mechanism of action against non-enveloped viruses.

PloS one·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Generation of Greater Bacterial Biofilm Biomass using PCR-Plate Deep Well Microplate Devices
10:57

Generation of Greater Bacterial Biofilm Biomass using PCR-Plate Deep Well Microplate Devices

Published on: April 22, 2022

8.4K

Quaternary ammonium biocides: efficacy in application.

Charles P Gerba1

  • 1Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA gerba@ag.arizona.edu.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|November 2, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are widely used disinfectants. While tolerance has increased, clear evidence of QAC resistance is lacking, necessitating better standardized tests and ecological understanding.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Environmental Science
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are extensively utilized disinfectants with broad applications.
  • Concerns exist regarding the potential for widespread QAC use to drive microbial resistance and cross-resistance to antibiotics.
  • QACs function as membrane-active agents, affecting bacterial cytoplasmic membranes and viral lipids.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) efficacy and resistance.
  • To highlight the need for standardized testing to differentiate tolerance from resistance.
  • To emphasize the importance of understanding the ecological impact of QACs on microbial communities and antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of laboratory and practical efficacy studies on QACs.

More Related Videos

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Organic Peroxyacids for Eradicating Dairy Biofilms Using an Approach Combining Static and Dynamic Methods
11:47

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Organic Peroxyacids for Eradicating Dairy Biofilms Using an Approach Combining Static and Dynamic Methods

Published on: December 9, 2022

2.1K
Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases
07:47

Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases

Published on: January 1, 2016

11.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Generation of Greater Bacterial Biofilm Biomass using PCR-Plate Deep Well Microplate Devices
10:57

Generation of Greater Bacterial Biofilm Biomass using PCR-Plate Deep Well Microplate Devices

Published on: April 22, 2022

8.4K
Evaluation of the Efficacy of Organic Peroxyacids for Eradicating Dairy Biofilms Using an Approach Combining Static and Dynamic Methods
11:47

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Organic Peroxyacids for Eradicating Dairy Biofilms Using an Approach Combining Static and Dynamic Methods

Published on: December 9, 2022

2.1K
Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases
07:47

Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases

Published on: January 1, 2016

11.3K
  • Analysis of mechanisms contributing to increased tolerance, including efflux pumps.
  • Examination of QACs' interaction with microbial membranes and lipids.

    • Main Results:

    • Observed increases in bacterial tolerance to QACs, but no definitive evidence of true resistance.
    • Potential for efflux pumps to contribute to cross-tolerance and possibly enhance antibiotic resistance.
    • Efficacy of QACs is influenced by formulation and application methods.

    Conclusions:

    • Further research is required to develop standardized tests differentiating tolerance from resistance to QACs.
    • Understanding the ecological impact of sublethal QAC doses on microbial communities and antibiotic resistance is crucial.
    • Continued evaluation of QAC formulations and applications is needed to ensure optimal disinfectant efficacy.