The antibacterial activity of a complex of iodine and a non-ionic surface-active agent

Abstract

Abstract The antibacterial activity of a complex of iodine and cetomacrogol against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus has been compared with a system prepared by diluting an iodine solution in ethanol and potassium iodide. Known numbers of bacteria were mixed with known concentrations of iodine and viable counts were made at intervals thereafter. The activity of both preparations was the same at equal iodine concentrations. Killing, when it occurred, was rapid, the relation between the iodine concentration and the dry weight of the bacterial suspension apparently being the controlling feature. The presence of serum reduced the activity, the reduction being greater for Staph. aureus than for E. coli. Temperatures from 20–37° had no effect whilst reducing the pH to 4, or below, caused a marked increase in the activity.