title: Antibacterial activity of selected commercial products for mouth washing and disinfection, assessed in accordance with PN-EN 1040.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, there is a wide range of products for mouth washing on the Polish market. They have different qualitative and quantitative compositions, and they differ particularly in the concentration of active substances. In antisepsis and disinfection, the significant reduction in number of cells of microorganisms in a particular environment is very crucial. The chemical agents should provide a significant decrease in number of microorganisms in a relatively short time. The purpose of this study was to examine the bactericidal activity of selected herbal products used for treatment of inflammation, and disinfection and washing of the mouth, having antibacterial activity as declared by the manufacturers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 28 products for mouth washing and disinfection available in Poland. Bactericidal activity was studied using a quantitative suspension test according to the standard PN-EN 1040.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 1 of 4 tested herbal products, registered as medicinal products, showed satisfactory antibacterial activity when they were used according to the manufacturer's recommendations. A total of 13 preparations (48%) complied with the standard requirements against all tested strains. Up to 19% of products showed no bactericidal activity against bacterial strains, and up to 33% were only effective against certain microorganisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The informational literature accompanying most antiseptics should be corrected by the manufacturers, providing information about antimicrobial activity consistent with the requirements of applicable standards. The information on the packaging or in the leaflets for antiseptic products should be corrected by the manufacturers to include accurate information on antimicrobial activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Antibiotics and Microbiology, National Medicines Institute, Warsaw, Poland. s.tyski@nil.gov.pl
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tyski
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bocian
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mikucka
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grzybowska
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D004203:Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011044:Poland; D012015:Reference Standards
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009067:Mouthwashes; D028321:Plant Preparations