In vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of selected lozenges

The in vitro antimicrobial activities of 10 lozenges (Merothol, Merocets, Merocaine, Strepsils (two varieties), Dequacaine, Dequacets, Zensyls, Tyrozets, and Labosept) were determined by use of a microtiter counting method with Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans as the test organisms. Merothol, Merocets, Merocaine, and both Strepsils formulations all reduced the counts of both S. aureus and S. pyogenes suspensions by approximately 6 log cycles within 5 and 20 min, respectively. Merothol, Merocets, and Merocaine also caused a reduction in the counts of the C. albicans suspension approximately 5 log cycles within 40 min, but no other lozenge formulation showed rapid and marked activity against C. albicans. Dequacaine and Dequacets showed marked but much slower activities against this yeast. Zensyls caused an approximately 6-log-cycle reduction in bacterial counts within 40 min, and Dequacaine, Dequacets, and Tyrozets showed marked but slower antibacterial activities. This work confirmed by a statistically sound in vitro method the in vivo antibacterial activities reported for Merothol, Merocets, and Merocaine, demonstrated equivalent antibacterial activities for Strepsils, and indicated that Merothol, Merocets, and Merocaine also showed marked activities against C. albicans.