THE MODE OF ACTION OF CHLORINATED BISPHENOL ANTIBACTERIALS: Part II. Biological Studies

Abstract

Abstract 2:2′-Thiobis(4:6-dichlorphenol) has been found to be bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus in distilled water at a dilution of one part per million. In contrast to oxine, it is not dependent on the presence of trace elements in the medium for activity. The bactericidal concentration was the same against Staph. aureus in nutrient broth which was rendered deficient in metal ions. The crystalline copper and iron chelates of the chelating agent were found to show the same bacteriostatic activity as the agent itself against Staph. aureus. However dilution of solutions of these chelates with a large volume of water was found to cause some breakdown to a mixture of agent and metal chelate. Thiobisdichlorphenol and hexachlorophene are suppressed in their action on Staph. aureus by ferrous ions, but not by a number of other cations tested. In this, they parallel the behaviour of the tetracycline group of antibiotics. The suggestion has been made that thiobisdichlorphenol and hexachlorophene owe their antibacterial action to an inhibition of certain metal requiring enzyme systems.