Antimicrobial Preservatives W9 Flashcards
Antimicrobial agents
Chemical agents used to destroy, inactivate or inhibit growth of microorganisms
Preservatives
can be incorporated into formulations to prevent spoilage and to kill or inhibit low levels of
contamination introduced during storage or use.
Why do we use AMPS
Prevent microbial growth
Ensure product safety
Increase shelflife and stability
Protect against spoilage and degradation
Regulatory compliance with FDA and EMA
Maintain aesthetic properties
The outcome of using contaminated pharmaceutical products
Generalised bacteraemic shock and death
Broken skin become necked
Spread of infection over several months
Observable signs of microbial contamination
Smell and taste
Discolouration
Loss of viscosity
Change of pH
Gaseous metabolites
Emulsions cracking
Phase seperation
AMP is used with .
✓The majority of oral liquid preparations.
✓Creams and lotions (not ointments).
✓Most multidose eye drops and eye irrigations.
✓Injectables that are allowed to be multi-dose.
✓Nose and ear drops.
No need for AMP with….
✓ Dry powders, tablets and capsules.
✓ Single use sterile products (eye drops or injections
like, intrathecal and IV infusions).
✓ Ointments.
✓ Formulations that have intrinsic preservative activity
(some anti-cancer drugs)
Ideal preservative
Broad spec of activity
Rapid killing rate
Anon-irritant/toxic
Highly selective towards contaminants
Effective at low conc
Stable through life of pharm product
NO SUCH AGENT EXISTS
Commonly used AMP
Acids and esters
Alcohols
Chloroform
Phenolics
Parahydoxybenzoates as Antimicrobials
o Alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid.
o Good preservative activity up to ~ pH 8.
o Most effective against fungi.
o Poor activity against Pseudomonas
o Often used in combination
o Inactivated by non-ionic surfactants.
o Can be used e.g., in creams, oral liquids, eye drops and injectables.
Benzoic/Sorbic Acid as Antimicrobials
o Used widely
o only useful up to pH 4.5
o used in oral liquids; also safe to use in parenterals.
o Both have antibacterial and antifungal activity
o used in food industry
o Some organisms can develop resistance to them
Phenolics as Antimicrobials
Effective against bacteria, virus, fungi, spores
Can be toxic
Can be corrosive to metal
Resistance can be developed
An example is phenyl which isn’t used anymore that was common in the 19th century
Alcohols as Antimicrobials
Ethanol can be used but need a higher concentration
Benzyl alcohol has a wide spec of Antimicrobial activity and can be used in injectables and topicals - Not for neonatal injections
Chlorobutanol can b used as njections ans eye drops
Quaternary ammonium compounds as Antimicrobials
Benzalkonium is widely used as AMP in eye drops and injectables
Biguanides as Antimicrobials
Chlorohexadine
- Partially useful in eye preparations
- generally used as acetate or hydrochloride salts
- limited anti fungal activity
- used as antiseptic for mouthwash