title: Efficacy of common antiseptics against mycobacteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Antiseptics are frequently used to prevent mycobacterial infection; however, the reported activities of a number of antiseptics against mycobacteria are not always consistent. The aim of this study was to determine those antiseptics that are useful against mycobacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of antiseptic activity against mycobacteria in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effects of different antiseptics on mycobacteria (Mycobacterium avium, M. kansasii and M. tuberculosis) were examined. At concentrations of 0.05%, povidone-iodine (PVP-I) killed 99% or more of all strains tested within 15 seconds, while 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate and 0.1% benzalkonium chloride showed no bactericidal activity against mycobacteria. M. kansasii and M. tuberculosis were killed after exposure to cresol for 60 seconds at concentrations of 1.0%, but M. avium was unaffected even after 60 seconds. While M. kansasii and M. tuberculosis were killed by treatment with 2.0% glutaraldehyde for 5 minutes, M. avium was highly resistant to this agent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PVP-I seems to be a useful antiseptic against mycobacteria. The measured activity of antiseptics should be interpreted carefully, due to the potential for interference by artifacts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan. riki@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rikimaru
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oizumi
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D011206:Povidone-Iodine