An antiseptic (
Greek: ἀντί,
romanized: anti,
lit. 'against'[1] and σηπτικός, sēptikos, 'putrefactive'[2]) is an
antimicrobial substance or compound that is applied to living
tissue to reduce the possibility of
sepsis,
infection or
putrefaction. Antiseptics are generally distinguished from antibiotics by the latter's ability to safely destroy bacteria within the body, and from disinfectants, which destroy microorganisms found on non-living objects.[3]
Ancient Greek physicians
Galen (
c. 130–200) and
Hippocrates (
c. 400 BC) as well as
Sumerian clay tablets dating from 2150 BC that advocate the use of similar techniques.[7]
Ignaz Semmelweis, who published his work The Cause, Concept and Prophylaxis of Childbed Fever in 1861, summarizing experiments and observations since 1847[8]
Medieval surgeons
Hugh of Lucca, Theoderic of Servia, and his pupil
Henri de Mondeville were opponents of Galen's opinion that
pus was important to healing, which had led ancient and medieval surgeons to let pus remain in wounds. They advocated draining and cleaning the wound edges with wine, dressing the wound after suturing, if necessary and leaving the dressing on for ten days, soaking it in warm wine all the while, before changing it. Their theories were bitterly opposed by Galenist
Guy de Chauliac and others trained in the classical tradition.[9]
Antiseptics can be subdivided into about eight classes of materials. These classes can be subdivided according to their mechanism of action: small molecules that indiscriminately react with organic compounds and kill microorganisms (peroxides, iodine, phenols) and more complex molecules that disrupt the cell walls of the bacteria.[10]
Alcohols, including
ethanol and 2-propanol/
isopropanol are sometimes referred to as surgical spirit. They are used to disinfect the skin before injections, among other uses.
Diguanides including
chlorhexidine gluconate, a bacteriocidal antiseptic which (with an alcoholic solvent) is considered a safe and effective antiseptic for reducing the risk of infection after clean surgery,[11] including tourniquet-controlled upper limb surgery.[12] It is also used in mouthwashes to treat inflammation of the gums (
gingivitis).
Polyhexanide (polyhexamethylene biguanide, PHMB) is an antimicrobial compound suitable for clinical use in critically colonized or infected acute and chronic wounds. The physicochemical action on the bacterial envelope prevents or impedes the development of resistant bacterial strains.[13][14][15]
Iodine, especially in the form of
povidone-iodine, is widely used because it is well tolerated; does not negatively affect wound healing; leaves a deposit of active iodine, thereby creating the so-called "remnant", or persistent effect; and has wide scope of antimicrobial activity. The traditional iodine antiseptic is an
alcohol solution (called
tincture of iodine) or as
Lugol's iodine solution. Some studies[16] do not recommend disinfecting minor wounds with iodine because of concern that it may induce scar tissue formation and increase healing time. However, concentrations of 1% iodine or less have not been shown to increase healing time and are not otherwise distinguishable from treatment with saline.[17] Iodine will kill all principal pathogens and, given enough time, even
spores, which are considered to be the most difficult form of microorganisms to be inactivated by disinfectants and antiseptics.
Octenidine dihydrochloride, currently increasingly used in continental Europe, often as a chlorhexidine substitute.
Peroxides, such as
hydrogen peroxide and
benzoyl peroxide. Commonly, 3% solutions of hydrogen peroxide have been used in household first aid for scrapes, etc. However, the strong oxidization causes scar formation and increases healing time during fetal development.[18]
Phenols such as phenol itself (as introduced by Lister) and
triclosan,
hexachlorophene,
chlorocresol, and
chloroxylenol. The latter is used for skin disinfection and cleaning surgical instruments. It is also used within a number of household disinfectants and wound cleaners.
An antiseptic (
Greek: ἀντί,
romanized: anti,
lit. 'against'[1] and σηπτικός, sēptikos, 'putrefactive'[2]) is an
antimicrobial substance or compound that is applied to living
tissue to reduce the possibility of
sepsis,
infection or
putrefaction. Antiseptics are generally distinguished from antibiotics by the latter's ability to safely destroy bacteria within the body, and from disinfectants, which destroy microorganisms found on non-living objects.[3]
Ancient Greek physicians
Galen (
c. 130–200) and
Hippocrates (
c. 400 BC) as well as
Sumerian clay tablets dating from 2150 BC that advocate the use of similar techniques.[7]
Ignaz Semmelweis, who published his work The Cause, Concept and Prophylaxis of Childbed Fever in 1861, summarizing experiments and observations since 1847[8]
Medieval surgeons
Hugh of Lucca, Theoderic of Servia, and his pupil
Henri de Mondeville were opponents of Galen's opinion that
pus was important to healing, which had led ancient and medieval surgeons to let pus remain in wounds. They advocated draining and cleaning the wound edges with wine, dressing the wound after suturing, if necessary and leaving the dressing on for ten days, soaking it in warm wine all the while, before changing it. Their theories were bitterly opposed by Galenist
Guy de Chauliac and others trained in the classical tradition.[9]
Antiseptics can be subdivided into about eight classes of materials. These classes can be subdivided according to their mechanism of action: small molecules that indiscriminately react with organic compounds and kill microorganisms (peroxides, iodine, phenols) and more complex molecules that disrupt the cell walls of the bacteria.[10]
Alcohols, including
ethanol and 2-propanol/
isopropanol are sometimes referred to as surgical spirit. They are used to disinfect the skin before injections, among other uses.
Diguanides including
chlorhexidine gluconate, a bacteriocidal antiseptic which (with an alcoholic solvent) is considered a safe and effective antiseptic for reducing the risk of infection after clean surgery,[11] including tourniquet-controlled upper limb surgery.[12] It is also used in mouthwashes to treat inflammation of the gums (
gingivitis).
Polyhexanide (polyhexamethylene biguanide, PHMB) is an antimicrobial compound suitable for clinical use in critically colonized or infected acute and chronic wounds. The physicochemical action on the bacterial envelope prevents or impedes the development of resistant bacterial strains.[13][14][15]
Iodine, especially in the form of
povidone-iodine, is widely used because it is well tolerated; does not negatively affect wound healing; leaves a deposit of active iodine, thereby creating the so-called "remnant", or persistent effect; and has wide scope of antimicrobial activity. The traditional iodine antiseptic is an
alcohol solution (called
tincture of iodine) or as
Lugol's iodine solution. Some studies[16] do not recommend disinfecting minor wounds with iodine because of concern that it may induce scar tissue formation and increase healing time. However, concentrations of 1% iodine or less have not been shown to increase healing time and are not otherwise distinguishable from treatment with saline.[17] Iodine will kill all principal pathogens and, given enough time, even
spores, which are considered to be the most difficult form of microorganisms to be inactivated by disinfectants and antiseptics.
Octenidine dihydrochloride, currently increasingly used in continental Europe, often as a chlorhexidine substitute.
Peroxides, such as
hydrogen peroxide and
benzoyl peroxide. Commonly, 3% solutions of hydrogen peroxide have been used in household first aid for scrapes, etc. However, the strong oxidization causes scar formation and increases healing time during fetal development.[18]
Phenols such as phenol itself (as introduced by Lister) and
triclosan,
hexachlorophene,
chlorocresol, and
chloroxylenol. The latter is used for skin disinfection and cleaning surgical instruments. It is also used within a number of household disinfectants and wound cleaners.