Benzalkonium Chloride Hand Sanitizer Antibacterial Effect

1 under laboratory conditions benzalkonium chloride demonstrates decent activity against some bacteria fungi and enveloped viruses.

Benzalkonium chloride hand sanitizer antibacterial effect. The antimicrobial effects of quaternary ammonium compounds qacs such as benzalkonium chloride were first described in the 1900s. Usually alcohol based hand sanitisers contain between 60 95 alcohol. Since the outbreak of covid 19 sales of hand sanitizers have soared.

Researchers at the los alamitos unified school district in california conducted a five week study in 2001 and found that students who used hand sanitizer containing benzalkonium chloride at scheduled times each day were 33 percent less likely to be absent due to illness. However a potential negative effect is that the active ingredients will irritate the skin because of their continued presence on the skin surface. Recently alcohol free hand sanitizers with triclosan or benzalkonium chloride have been gaining ground due to concerns that ethanol is dries out the skin is too toxic and there are frequent cases of intentional ingestion 10 14 17.

As a cationic detergent in the family of quaternary ammonium compounds benzalkonium chloride bzk shows strong antiseptic activity against both gram positive and negative bacteria. Bondurant md a collette m. Demonstrating the persistent antibacterial efficacy of a hand sanitizer containing benzalkonium chloride on human skin at 1 2 and 4 hours after application author links open overlay panel sidney w.

Manufacturers add other ingredients for various reasons. It works by killing microorganisms and inhibiting their future growth and for this reason frequently appears as an ingredient in antibacterial hand wipes antiseptic creams and anti itch ointments. However practical results.

Aden andrus academic medical research technical 3. It s become such a sought after product that pharmacies and supermarkets have started limiting the number that people can. What is benzalkonium chloride used for.

A hand sanitizer monograph. Benzalkonium chloride has repeatedly demonstrated its toxic characteristics in laboratory experimental and clinical studies. These ingredients are also key in non alcohol based sanitisers.