benzalkonium (Zephiran, Sterinol)

Indications

• pre-operative disinfection of intact skin
• treatment of superficial injuries
• benzalkonium chloride is used as a preservative in glaucoma ophthalmics

Dosage

(dilution)

• pre-operative disinfection: 1:2000-10,000
• eye irrigation: 1:5000-10,000
• vaginal douche/irrigation: 1:2000-5000
• bladder/urethral irrigation: 1:5000-20,000
• retention irrigation: 1:20,000-40,000
• denuded areas: 1:2000-5000
• infected deep wound irrigation: 1:3000-20,000

Solution: 8 oz. 1:750.

Adverse effects

• ophthalmic preservatove benzalkonium chloride can cause ocular surface injury such as corneal epithelial damage & conjunctival redness

Mechanism of action

• germicidal for many bacteria & fungi
• generally NOT active against
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • spore-forming organisms
• ophthalmic preservatove benzalkonium chloride acts as a penetration enhancer, promoting the penetration of active ingredients into the eye

More general terms

• other antibiotic
• antifungal agent

Additional terms

• dorzolamide (Trusopt)

Component of

• benzalkonium/menthol
• benzalkonium/chloroxylenol
• benzalkonium/chlorhexidine
• benzalkonium/biguanide
• benzalkonium/benzocaine/camphor
• allantoin/benzalkonium/benzyl alcohol
• benzalkonium/piperonyl butoxide/pyrethrin
• benzalkonium/menthol/white petrolatum
• benzalkonium/hexylresorcinol/zinc chloride
• benzalkonium/chloroxylenol/cortisol/pramoxine
• benzalkonium/camphor
• benzalkonium/benzocaine
• benzalkonium/benzethonium
• ammonium chloride/benzalkonium/chlorhexidine
• allantoin/benzalkonium
• benzalkonium/pramoxine
• benzalkonium/lidocaine
• benzalkonium/benzocaine/diethylcarbamazine
• benzalkonium/benzocaine/zinc chloride
• tyloxapol (Enuclene)
• benzocaine/benzalkonium chloride/butyl aminobenzoate/tetracaine (Cetacaine)
• latanoprost (Xalatan)

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=23705
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=59577
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=2330