Quaternary ammonium compounds are surfactants composed of positively charged polyatomic ions. A longstanding example is benzalkonium chloride. Later generations of QACs achieve synergies through the incorporation of other chemicals designed to enhance their efficacy. This class of disinfectant has a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial action of quaternary ammonium compounds involves perturbation of cytoplasm and the lipid bilayers that form the bacterial cell membrane.
This article looks at the efficacy of quaternary ammonium compounds and compares the performance of this class of biocides with comparable disinfectants and sets out why the latest generation of QACs represent an advancement. The article follows on from an earlier article published in The Clinical Services Journal (‘Advantages of quaternary ammonium compounds’) which considered the application of QACs as part of the infection control programme.
Sandle, T. (2025) The evolution of quaternary ammonium compounds, Clinical Services Journal, 24 (6): 41-45 https://www.clinicalservicesjournal.com/story/48469/the-evolution-of-quaternary-ammonium-compounds
Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)
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