( Greek αντί, ''against'', and σηπτικός, ''putrefactive'') are Antimicrobial Substances that are applied to living Tissue / Skin to reduce the possibility of Infection , Sepsis , or Putrefaction . They should generally be distinguished from '' Antibiotic s'' that destroy Microorganisms within the body, and from '' Disinfectant s'', which destroy microorganisms found on non-living objects. Some antiseptics are true ''germicides'', capable of destroying microbes ( Bacteriocidal ), whilst others are Bacteriostatic and only prevent or inhibit their growth. '''Antibacterials''' are antiseptics that only act against bacteria.
The widespread introduction of antiseptic Surgical methods followed the publishing of the paper '' Antiseptic Principle Of The Practice Of Surgery '' in 1867 by Joseph Lister , inspired by Louis Pasteur 's germ theory of putrefaction. In this paper he advocated the use of carbolic acid ( Phenol ) as a method of ensuring that any germs present were killed. Some of this work was anticipated by:
- Dr. George H Tichenor who experimented with the use of alcohol on wounds ca. 1861-1863, and subsequently marketed a product for this purpose known as "Dr. Tichenor's Patent Medicine " after the US Civil War .
- Ignaz Semmelweis who published his work "The Cause, Concept and Prophylaxis of Childbed Fever" in 1861, summarizing experiments and observations since 1847. ''Ignaz Semmelweis and the birth of infection control'' , M Best and D Neuhauser, Qual Saf Health Care 2004;13:233-234.
- Florence Nightingale , who contributed substantially to the report on the Royal Commission On The Health Of The Army (1856–1857), based on her earlier work
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. , who published "The Contagiousness of Puerperal Fever" in 1843.
and even the ancient Greek physicians Galen (ca 130–200 CE) and Hippocrates (ca 400 BCE). There is even a Sumerian clay tablet dating from 2150 BCE advocating the use of similar techniques. ''Inflammation in Wound Repair: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms: Editor's Note'' , Russell P. Hall, III, Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2007) 127, 514–525. doi:10.1038/sj.jid.5700701
But every antiseptic, however good, is more or less toxic and irritating to a wounded surface. Hence it is that the antiseptic method has been replaced in the Surgery of today by the Aseptic Method , which relies on keeping free from the invasion of bacteria rather than destroying them when present.
For the growth of bacteria there must be a certain food supply, moisture, in most cases oxygen, and a certain minimum temperature (see Bacteriology ). These conditions have been specially studied and applied in connection with the Preserving Of Food and in the ancient practice of Embalming the dead, which is the earliest illustration of the systematic use of antiseptics.
In early inquiries a great point was made of the prevention of putrefaction, and work was done in the way of finding how much of an agent must be added to a given solution, in order that the bacteria accidentally present might not develop. But for various reasons this was an inexact method, and today an antiseptic is judged by its effects on pure cultures of definite pathogenic microbes, and on their vegetative and spore forms. Their standardization has been affected in many instances, and a water solution of Phenol of a certain fixed strength is now taken as the standard with which other antiseptics are compared.
- ;s of the Vagina , in eyewashes, and as an antiviral to shorten the duration of Cold Sore attacks. Put into creams for burns. Also common in trace amounts in eye contact solution. Though it is popularly known as an antiseptic, it is in reality only a soothing fluid, and bacteria will flourish comfortably in contact with it.
- ;). The microbicidal action is somewhat slow, but remanent. It is a Cationic Surfactant , similar to Quats.
- ;s. More common 1% or 2% solutions of hydrogen peroxide have been used in household first aid for scrapes, etc. However, even this less potent form is no longer recommended for typical wound care as the strong oxidization causes scar formation and increases healing time. Gentle washing with mild soap and water or rinsing a scrape with sterile saline is a better practice.
- ; solution (called Tincture Of Iodine ) or as Lugol's Iodine solution as a pre and post-operative antiseptic. No longer recommended to disinfect minor wounds because it induces scar tissue formation and increases healing time. Gentle washing with mild soap and water or rinsing a scrape with sterile saline is a better practice. Novel iodine antiseptics containing Povidone-iodine (an Iodophor , complex of Povidone , a water-soluble Polymer , with triiodide anions I3-, containing about 10% of active iodine) are far better tolerated, don't affect wound healing negativelly and leave a depot of active iodine, creating the so-called "remanent," or persistent, effect. The great advantage of iodine antiseptics is the widest scope of antimicrobial activity, killing all principial pathogenes and given enough time even Spore s, which are considered to be the most difficult form of microorganisms to be inactivated by disinfectants and antiseptics.
- ; (FDA) due to concerns about its Mercury content. Another obsolete organomercury antiseptics include bis-(fenylmercury) monohydrogenborate (Famosept).
- ; and bis-(dihydropyridinyl)-decane derivative, used in concentrations of 0.1 - 2.0%. It is similar in its action to the Quats, but is of somewhat broader spectrum of activity. Octenidine is currently increasingly used in continental Europe as a QAC's and chlorhexidine (with respect to its slow action and concerns about the Carcinogenic impurity 4-chloroaniline) substitute in water- or alcohol-based skin, mucosa and wound antiseptic. In aqueous formulations, it is often potentiated with addition of 2-phenoxyethanol .
- ;. Other phenolic antiseptics include historically important, but today rarely used (sometimes in dental surgery) Thymol , today obsolete Hexachlorophene , still used Triclosan and sodium 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate (Dibromol).
- ; of the solution above 0.9%.
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