GERMICIDAL ACTION OF CETYL PYRIDINIUM CHLORIDE ON BETA HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCI

¹ New York, N. Y.

Thirty-one strains of beta hemolytic streptococci, freshly isolated from throat cultures, and a C203 strain were killed after 10 to 15 seconds' contact with 0.025 per cent cetyl pyridinium chloride in water, with 0.025 per cent cetyl pyridinum chloride in 15 per cent alcohol, or in a mouthwash using a modified phenol coefficient type of test. When 10 per cent sterile saliva was added to the antiseptic solutions, it did not affect the speed of germicidal action in 82 per cent of the tests, while in the remainder of the tests activity was increased or decreased. The results of this study suggest that a rapidly acting, nontoxic germicide, such as cetyl pyridinium chloride should be effective in an oral antiseptic solution which may kill the infecting bacteria before it is washed away or diluted beyond its effective concentration.