Studies in the development of antibacterial surfactants. I. institutional use of antibacterial fabric softeners

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Abstract
Summary: It has been determined that the incorporation of a highly active antibacterial agent, phenylmercuric propionate, into an aqueous solution of a fabric softener of the quaternary ammonium type results in a most effective antibacterial laundry rinse additive. The presence of the quaternary ammonium compound appears to enhance the antibacterial activity of the mercurial. When applied at a level of 63 parts of available mercurial to one million parts of fabric, the treated cloth is rendered bacteriostatic to several strains ofS. aureus and to ammonia‐producing organisms of theProteus group, also mildewstatic toChaetomium globosum. The formulated antibacterial softener as well as the treated linens appear to be entirely safe to humans.In longer‐term application tests in a hospital laundry the total bacterial load carried by the soiled treated linens is practically zero. There is no excessive build‐up of antibacterial agent on fabric upon repeated applications, and it is readily washed out of the fabric by conventional laundering.