Comparative Antimicrobial Activity of Commercial Disinfectants with Naphtholics.

Studies were carried out to determine the disinfectant property of naphthol and its derivatives. The sensitivity of some clinical organisms as compared with the activity of some selected commercial disinfectants was tested. The methods employed for assessing the efficacy of disinfectants in this study are Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Test and Capacity Use Dilution Test. The clinical organisms used for the tests are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Proteus mirabilis while the commercial disinfectants used are Dettol (Chloroxylenol), Savlon (Cetrimide/chlorhexidine mixture) and TCP (Trichlorophenol) and the Naphtholics are alpha naphthol and 2-amino-1,4-naphthoquinonimine hydrochloride. Dettol showed highest antibacterial activity against all the test organisms. Savlon's antibacterial activity was high against the test organisms except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. TCP showed low activity against all the test organisms while Purified ∞-naphthol and its derivative, 2-amino-1, 4-naphthoquinonimine hydrochloride were found to exhibit disinfecting properties, with the derivative showing more antimicrobial activity than ∞-naphthol. The compounds have bactericidal effect against the test organisms used in this study