As antimicrobial preservatives

Sulfur dioxide, sulfites, and metabisulfites have had extensive use as antimicrobial preservatives in the food industry. In pharmaceuticals they have had a dual role, acting as preservatives and antioxidants. The sulfa dmgs, or sulfonamides, the first effective chemotherapeutic agents to be employed... 

Butylparaben and other parabens are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetics and oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations. 

Chlorhexidine salts are widely used in pharmaceutical formulations in Europe and Japan for their antimicrobial properties. Although mainly used as disinfectants, chlorhexidine salts are also used as antimicrobial preservatives. 

Chlorhexidine and its salts are widely used, primarily as topical disinfectants. As excipients, chlorhexidine salts are mainly used as antimicrobial preservatives in ophthalmic formulations. 

Edetic acid and edetates possess some antimicrobial activity but are most frequently used in combination with other antimicrobial preservatives owing to their synergistic effects. Many solutions used for the cleaning, storage, and wetting of contact lenses contain disodium edetate. Typically, edetic acid and edetates are used in concentrations of 0.01-0.1% w/v as antimicrobial preservative synergists see Section 10. 

Methylparaben and other parabens are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetics and oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations. Although parabens have also been used as preservatives in injections and ophthalmic preparations, they are now generally regarded as being unsuitable for these types of formulations owing to the irritant potential of the parabens. These experiences may depend on... 

Phenylmercuric salts are used as antimicrobial preservatives mainly in ophthalmic preparations, but are also used in cosmetics see Section 16), parenteral, and topical pharmaceutical formulations see Table I. 

Phenylmercuric nitrate and other phenylmercuric salts are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in parenteral and topical pharmaceutical formulations. However, concern over the use of phenylmercuric salts in pharmaceuticals has increased as a result of greater awareness of the toxicity of mercury and other mercury compounds. This concern must, however, be balanced by the effectiveness of these materials as antimicrobial preservatives and the low concentrations in which they are employed. 

Propionates are used as antimicrobial preservatives in preference to propionic acid since they are less corrosive. 

Biocides, also referred to as antimicrobials, preservatives, fungicides, mildewcides, or bactericides, include several types of materials that differ in toxicity. OBPA (10, lO -oxybisphenoxarsine) is the most active preservative of those commonly used for plastics. Amine-neutralized phosphate and zinc-OMADINE (zinc 2-pyridinethianol-1-oxide) have a lower activity level but are also effective. In the United States all biocides are considered pesticides and must be registered for specific applications with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Preservatives. Without control of yeasts (qv), molds, and bacteria, the food industry would experience considerable economic losses each year owing to spoilage. Sugar, salt, and wood smoke have been used for centuries to preserve food. These methods, however, are not compatible with all food products thus preservatives, also known as antimicrobials, are used. 

Sodium benzoate is also finding increasing appHcation as a corrosion inhibitor. It is incorporated into paper wrapping materials for the prevention of mst or corrosion in the production of such diverse items as razor blades, engine parts, bearings, etc. It is also used in the automotive industry as a corrosion inhibitor in engine cooling systems (at 1.5%), mainly in Europe and Japan. Unlike in its appHcation as a preservative where free benzoic acid is required to provide antimicrobial action, it appears to be the benzoate ion that provides the corrosion protection. 

Whereas tests (186) indicated that ampholytes were effective in skin cleansing for preoperative use, for wound cleansing, and as an antiseptic in the oral cavity (187), as well as other medical appHcations, the food and beverage industries have proved to be the principal employers of these compounds. Ampholytes are used as sanitizers and disinfectants, not as food preservatives. Low toxicity, absence of skin irritation, and noncorrosiveness, along with antimicrobial activity, has given ampholytes acceptance in dairies, meat plants, and the brewing and soft drink industries. These disinfectants have been manufactured and distributed in Europe and Japan, but not in the United States. 

Benzyl alcohol (C6H5CH2OH). This has antibacterial and weak local anaesthetic properties and is used as an antimicrobial preservative at a concentration of 2%, although its use in cosmetics is restricted. 

Many derivatives of phenol are now made by a synthetic process. Homologous series of substituted derivatives have been prepared and tested for antimicrobial activity. A combination of alkyl substitution and halogenation has produced useful derivatives including clorinated phenols which are constituents of a number of proprietary disinfectants. Two ofthe most widely used derivatives are/ -chloro-m-cresol (4-chloro-3-methylphenol, chlorocresol, Fig. 10.7C) which is mostly employed as a preservative at a concentration of 0.1%, and / -chloro-m-xylenol (4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol, chloroxylenol. Fig. 10.7C) which is used for skin disinfection, although less than formerly. Chloroxylenol is sparingly soluble in water and must be solubihzed, for example in a suitable soap solution in conjunction with terpineol or pine oil. Its antimicrobial capacity is weak and is reduced by the presence of organic matter. 

Substances that have been used as preservatives for disperse systems include chlorocresol, chlorobutanol, benzoates, phenylmercuric nitrate, parabens, and others [76,77]. The use of cationic antimicrobial agents such as quaternary ammonium compounds (e.g., benzalkonium chloride) is contraindicated in many cases because they may be inactivated by other formulation components and/or they may alter the charge of the dispersed phase. Clay suspensions and gels should be adequately preserved with nonionic antimicrobial preservatives. The use of preservatives is generally limited to products that are not intended for parenteral use. Intravenous injectable... 

Aqueous products that are at greatest risk from microbial spoilage include solutions, suspensions, and emulsions for repeated oral, parenteral, or external use and include critical products such as multidose injections and eye drops. Unpreserved products without adequate antimicrobial efficacy should not be presented in containers intended for use on more than one occasion unless justified. When antimicrobial preservatives are used, their efficacy has to be demonstrated using the Ph Eur test for antimicrobial preservative efficacy. Factors to be taken into account in designing a preserved product include the nature of the preservative, its concentration in the product, the... 

Tributyltin acetate, (C4H9)3SnOOCCH3, and bis(tributyltin) oxide, (C4H9)3Sn-0-Sn(C4H9>3, have been commercialized as antimicrobial agents in the paper, wood preservation, plastics and textile industries29. 

In the field of muscle foods, the use of marination before irradiation reduced the dose necessary to eliminate Salmonella in poultry [113]. Some antimicrobial additives, especially the natural ones (e.g., bacteriocins) [94] and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) preservatives [114] can be usefully combined with irradiation to reduce dose requirements. Some antioxidants have also been used to prevent the undesirable oxidative effects in irradiated foods. 

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