The Comparative Resistance of Bacteria and Human Tissue Cells to Certain Common Antiseptics

The comparative resistance of bacteria and human tissue cells to antiseptics and other chemicals may be easily tested by tissue cultures under conditions which approximate those found in the living body. A comparative study shows that while human cells (connective tissue and wandering cells) are highly resistant to many antiseptics, they are in general more easily killed than bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). Of the antiseptics tested, which include mercuric chloride, iodine, potassium mercuric iodide, phenol, tricresol, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorites (Dakin's solution), argyrol, and alcohol, the one which approaches most closely the ideal disinfectant is iodine, which kills bacteria in strengths that do not seriously injure connective tissue cells or wandering cells.