Antimicrobial efficiency of preservatives in certain enzymes solutions

ABSTRACT

The efficiency of preservation of sterile solutions of pancreatin, papain, pepsin, trypsin and diastase, were assessed by challenge technique using mixed inoculum of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and C. albicans. The number of survivors was determined by viable count technique over a period of 28 days. Benzalkonium chloride, benzoic acid, chlorobutanol, methylparaben, phenethyl alcohol and phenylmercuric nitrate were used. The results obtained revealed that, the efficiency of preservative was dependent on the enzyme-preservative system involved. Benzoic acid, chlorobutanol and phenethyl alcohol were quite effective; while the other three preservatives were much less