2. Anti-Infective Agents
Anti-infective agents are drugs that prevent or treat infections by inhibiting the growth of or killing
microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
These agents act at the site of application, limiting systemic absorption and minimizing side effects.
Antiseptics:
Antiseptics are chemical agents applied to living tissues (such as skin, mucous membranes, or
wounds) to inhibit the growth of or destroy microorganisms, preventing infection without causing
significant harm to the tissue.
Example: Povidone-iodine, Hydrogen peroxide, Alcohol.
Disinfectants:
Disinfectants are chemical agents used on non-living surfaces and objects to destroy or inactivate
microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They are not safe for application to living
tissues due to their higher toxicity.
Example: Sodium hypochlorite (bleach), Phenol.
3. Local anti-infective agents
act by different
mechanisms such as:
1. Oxidation of bacterial protoplasm: These
agents directly release oxidants that damage
bacterial cellular components (Protoplasm).
2. Denaturation of bacterial proteins
including enzymes: These are the agents
denature bacterial proteins & enzymes by
breaking the hydrogen bonds, tertiary or
quaternary structures.
3. Detergent-like action( Increasing
permeability of bacterial membrane): These
are the agents act as surfactants, breaking
the lipid bilayer of the bacterial membranes.
This increases membrane permeability,
causing leakage of essential ions and
intracellular content.
5. Alcohols and related compounds:
Alcohols are widely used antiseptics, especially during dressing of wounds.
These act by causing denaturation of proteins.
Ethyl and isopropyl alcohols in the con. of 30-70% are used as antiseptics.
Structure Activity Relationship (SAR):
The activity of alcohols increases with increase in molecular weight and chain length.
The potency of aliphatic alcohols increases with lipophilicity.
Branching and addition of hydroxy groups decrease the potency.
6. Alcohols and related compounds:
Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol): CHCHOH
Chemical Formula: CHOH
Molecular Weight: 46.07 g/mol
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid
Used in hand sanitizers, pre-injection skin cleaning, and minor wound care.
Used to disinfect surfaces in hospitals, laboratories, and pharmaceutical industries.
7. Isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol, also known as isopropanol or 2-propanol, is a widely used antiseptic,
disinfectant, and solvent. It is effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, making it a common
component in hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants.
Chemical Formula: (CH)CHOH
Molecular Weight: 60.1 g/mol
Appearance: Clear, Colorless liquid
8. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a simple organic compound with strong disinfectant and preservative properties.
It is widely used in healthcare, laboratories, and industries for sterilization and preservation
purposes.
Chemical Formula: CHO
Molecular Weight: 30.03 g/mol
Appearance: Colorless gas or liquid
The structure consists of a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two hydrogen atoms
Mechanism of Action: Formaldehyde cross-links with proteins and nucleic acids, disrupting cell
function and leading to microbial death.
9. Phenols and their Derivatives:
Phenols and their derivatives have wide antibacterial properties and antiseptics.
They act as germicidals by denaturing the bacterial proteins.
Structure Activity Relationship ( SAR):
The activity of phenols is related to no. of free hydroxy groups.
Halogenation at para position to hydroxy group potentials the activity
The antibacterial activity of alkyl phenols increase with increase in size of the alkyl group.
10. p-Chlorophenol
p-Chlorophenol is an aromatic organic compound where a chlorine atom is substituted at the
para (4th) position of a phenol ring.
Chemical Formula: CHClO
Molecular Weight: 128.56 g/mol
Appearance: White to off-white crystalline solid
It is used as an antiseptic and it is used in combination with camphor as an external antiseptic and
anti-irritant.
11. Hexachlorophene
Chemical formula: C13H6Cl6O2
2,2 methylene- bis (3,4,6-
trichlorophenol)
Hexachlorophene consists of 2
trichlorophenol (C6H2Cl3OH) rings
connected by methylene (-CH2-) bridge
at the second carbon of each ring
It is a white crystaline powder and
insoluble in water.
It is mainly used in soaps, detergents,
creams and emulsions for tropical
application.
12. Synthesis
Formaldehyde activation under acidic
medium producing a reactive
electrophilic intermediate.
Electrophilic carbon from formaldehyde
reacts with ortho positions of the 2,4,5-
trichlorophenol.
Methylene Methylene Bridge
Formation: A second molecule of
trichlorophenol reacts, completing the
formation of the bisphenol structure
(hexachlorophene).
13. Hexyl resorcinol
Hexylresorcinol is an organic compound that belongs to the resorcinol family, known for its
antiseptic and anesthetic properties. It is commonly used in pharmaceutical and personal care
products.
IUPAC Name: 4-Hexyl resorcinol
Molecular Formula: CHO
It occurs as white, needle shape crystals with a faint odour.
It is freely soluble in water.
It is odourless and nonstaining.
15. Oxidizing agents:
Oxidising agents have germicidal property and are used in treatment of infections caused by
anaerobic organisms( dont require oxygen to grow).
The most common oxidising agents are Hydrogen peroxide, Potassium permanganate, Zinc
peroxide, Hydrousbenzoyl peroxide.
16. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
Hydrogen peroxide is a good disinfectant and sterilant. It is rapidly decomposes releasing nascent oxygen
which produces antibacterial action.
It is not stable and may undergo decomposition on storage.
It is used in the form of carbamate peroxide which releases hydrogen peroxide when come into contact with
water.
It is mainly used as ear drops to remove slough, ear wax etc.
Hydrous Benzoyl Peroxide: It is used topically in the therapy of mild to moderate acne vulgaris and to
removes dead skin cells.
17. Halogen containing compounds
Iodine tincture: 2% solution of iodine in alcohol. It is effective over a wide pH range and the
bactericidal activity is related to the amount of free iodine generated.
Iodine acts by oxidising tyrosine and sulfhydryl groups in proteins causing inactivation.
18. Halazone
Halazone is a chemical compound primarily used as a water disinfectant. It is an organochlorine
compound with mild antibacterial properties, commonly employed to purify drinking water.
It is a white crystalline powder and chlorine like odour.
It is slightly soluble in water.
19. Halazone
Halazone is a chemical compound
primarily used as a water disinfectant. It
is an organochlorine compound with
mild antibacterial properties, commonly
employed to purify drinking water.
It is a white crystalline powder and
chlorine like odour.
It is slightly soluble in water.
21. Cationic Surfactants
Cationic surfactants are effective against a number of Gram-possetive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi and
viruses.
These cations are absorbed onto the surface of the bacteria resulting in cell membrane disruption, protein
denaturation and enzyme inhibitions.
The detergent property also helps in cleaning dirty wounds.
These compounds have the advantage of having low toxicity, non-staining, high water solubility.
22. Benzalkonium Chloride (BAK)
Benzalkonium Chloride is a widely used quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) with antimicrobial, antiseptic, and
surfactant properties. It is commonly found in disinfectants, hand sanitizers, eye drops, and pharmaceutical formulations.
Chemical Formula: CHClN (for dodecylbenzyl version)
General Formula:
CHCHN(R)Cl
Where:
CHCH Benzyl group
N(R) Quaternary ammonium (R = long alkyl chain, typically dodecyl (12-carbon alkyl chain) or tetradecyl)
IUPAC Name
N-benzyl-N,N-dimethyldodecan-1-aminium chloride
23. Dyes:
Gentian Violet
Structure: Gentian violet consists of a triphenylmethane core
with three dimethylamino (N(CH)) groups attached to the
phenyl rings and a chloride ion.
The central carbon is bonded to three phenyl rings, each
substituted with a dimethylamino group.
IUPAC:
[4-(Dimethylamino)phenyl]-bis[4-
(dimethylamino)phenyl]methylium chloride
Soluble in water and ethanol
Gentian violet with antiseptic, antifungal, and staining
properties. It is commonly used in microbiology, medicine,
24. Nitrogen compounds
Nitrofurazone is an antimicrobial agent primarily used for the
treatment of wounds, burns, and bacterial infections. It belongs
to the nitrofuran class of drugs, known for their broad-spectrum
antibacterial properties.
Nitrofurazone consists of a furan ring substituted with a nitro
group (NO) and a hydrazone moiety.
The furan ring (CHO) carries a nitro group at position 5, and
the hydrazone group is attached at position 2.
IUPAC Name
N-(5-Nitro-2-furfurylidene)-1-aminohydantoin
Topical Antibacterial Agent Used in ointments for skin
infections, burns, and wounds.