2024-08-27
Infection prevention in the healthcare industry: Benzalkonium Chloride as a disinfectant
Disinfectants have an important role in our society. They help prevent the occurrence or spread of infections by rapidly deactivating the harmful pathogens that cause them – be they viruses, bacteria, or fungi. From hand washes and sanitisers to surface disinfectants, laundry detergents, and skin and wound care solutions, a wide variety of disinfectant products help us keep our skin and our environments as clean as possible.Benzalkonium Chloride (BKC) is part of a family of cationic surfactants known as Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, often shortened to Quats. Quats are common ingredients found in disinfectant products due to their antimicrobial and antibacterial activity. By adsorbing onto the cytoplasmic membrane of microbes, Quats damage the structural integrity of cell membranes. This enables them to inactivate gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and lipophilic (enveloped) viruses.