This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Silvernale, J. N. Articles by Gerhardt, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Silvernale, J. N. Articles by Gerhardt, P.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1971 October; 108(1): 482-491
Copyright © 1971 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Antimicrobial Actions of Hexachlorophene: Cytological Manifestations¹

^a Department of Microbiology and Public Health, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48823, and Department of Microbiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

ABSTRACT

Hexachlorophene is a soap-compatible bisphenol that has been widely used as an antiseptic, yet its mechanism of action is undefined. The relative threshold concentration for bactericidal effect on a susceptible test organism, Bacillus megaterium, was established to be about 10 µg/mg of cell dry weight. At this or at high (100 µg/mg) concentration, adsorptive uptake by cells displayed saturation kinetics. At about 30 µg/mg, the time course of adsorption occurred in three distinct stages. The triphasic pattern was interpreted to represent successive penetration of and adsorption by the cell wall, the protoplast membrane, and the cytoplasm. This interpretation was substantiated by determinations of hexachlorophene adsorption by isolated cell components. Electron microscopy disclosed cytopathology, evidenced as gaps or discontinuities, in the protoplast membrane (but not in the cell wall or cytoplasm) at > 30 µg of hexachlorophene per mg of cell dry weight. Similarly, treatment with > 30 µg/mg allowed a fluorescigenic dye (tolyl-peri acid) to penetrate into the protoplast. However, no detectable cytological manifestations were discerned at the minimum lethal concentration of 10 µg/mg. Apparently, hexachlorophene is physically disruptive at intermediate or high relative concentrations but acts in a more subtle fashion at the minimal lethal concentration.

² Present address: Squibb Institute for Medical Research, E. R. Squibb and Sons, Inc., New Brunswick, N.J. 08903.

³ Present address: Quality Control and Government Regulations Division, Parke, Davis and Co., Detroit, Mich. 48232.

¹ Article no. 5326 from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Chuanchuen, R., Narasaki, C. T., Schweizer, H. P. (2002). The MexJK Efflux Pump of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Requires OprM for Antibiotic Efflux but Not for Efflux of Triclosan. J. Bacteriol. 184: 5036-5044 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Heath, R. J., Li, J., Roland, G. E., Rock, C. O. (2000). Inhibition of the Staphylococcus aureus NADPH-dependent Enoyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Reductase by Triclosan and Hexachlorophene. J. Biol. Chem. 275: 4654-4659 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• McDonnell, G., Russell, A. D. (1999). Antiseptics and Disinfectants: Activity, Action, and Resistance. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 12: 147-179 [Abstract] [Full Text]