Anti-infective agents, antimicrobial

Benzethonium chloride has been used therapeutically as a disinfectant and topical anti-infective agent. However, its use in these applications has largely been superseded by other more effective antimicrobials and it is now largely used solely as a preservative in a limited number of pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. 

In the year 2005, annual worldwide commerce in antibiotics was measured in multiple tons and was valued in excess of 10 billion. About half of this was associated with (3-lactam antibiotics alone. Approximately 20% of the most frequently prescribed outpatient medications in the United States are anti-infective agents. Approximately 100 antibiotics have seen substantial clinical use, representing the most attractive of more than 20,000 known natural antibiotics and an order of magnitude more semisynthetic and totally synthetic antimicrobial agents. These agents have had a major impact on the practice of medicine and pharmacy and on the lives of persons still living, who remember well the perils and uncertainties of life before antibiotics became available. 

Bernan, V. S., Greenstein, M., and Carter, G. T. (2004). Mining marine organisms as a source of new antimicrobials and antifungals. Curr. Med. Chem. - Anti-Infective Agents. 3,181-195. 

Halpenny, G.M., Mascharak, P.K., 2010. Emerging antimicrobial applications of nitric oxide (NO) and NO-releasing materials. Anti-Infective Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry-Anti-Infective Agents) 9,187-197. 

Hron P. Hydrophilisation of silicone rubber for medical applications. Polym Int, 2003, 52, 1531-1539. Tcholakian RK and Raad. Durability of anti-infective effect of long term silicone sheath catheters impregnated with antimicrobial agents. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2001, 45(7), 1990-1993. 

Because of a significant decrease in the pace of novel anti-infective discovery, increased regulatory constraints, and greater profits to be made by the use of medications for chronic conditions, there is presently a decreased research emphasis on antimicrobial agents. This coincides with a dramatic increase in microbial resistance to chemotherapy, that portends a bleak future in which humankind may once again face infectious diseases with few available countermeasures. 

Uses Antibacterial, preservative, wetting agent, solubilizer in cosmetics, emulsions, cough syrups, lozenges, topical sol ns. antimicrobial, antistat, deodorant agent, emulsifier, surfactant in cosmetics topical anti-infective antiseptic in pharmaceuticals Use Level 0.1%... 

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