Niveen M. Masri¹, Lama B. Hanbali¹, Ahmad H. Kamar¹, Lana M.S. Kanafani¹, Mohamed B. Hanbali¹, John J. Haddad^1,

Background: Immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory and microbial infection control means are major benchmarks that characterize the spiral evolution of awareness of public health safety in modern society. This issue is substantiated with burgeoning number of cases of microbial contamination and/or infection in myriad healthcare settings, at the hospital, and even at home. This study investigates the antimicrobial/bactericidal effects of commercially available disinfectants, sterilizers, antiseptics, and chlorhexidine-containing detergents on the growth of saprophytic and pathogenic gram-positive bacteria in vitro. It is an unprecedented wide canopy envelopingstandardized comparative assessments of the antimicrobial efficiency of consumer-targeted household detergents, curbing and containing microbial infection, inflammation and contamination propensity. Methods: Given the medical significance and impact of public infection control, we have meticulously examined at least 22 different detergents categorized into four classes (each category comprises a variety of commercially available products commonly used by the public): i) Class A – Daily Mouthwash; ii) Class B –Toilet Bowl Cleaners/Bleaches/Sanitizers;iii) Class C –Surface and Floor Mopping Cleaners/Detergents; and iv) Class D –Hand and Body Wash Gels. Whilst the canonical menu of active ingredients varies among thoseaforementioned classes, antimicrobial components are well established. Results: Regarding Class A, the most effective against Bacillus subtilis is ‘ColgatePlax Mouthwash’; Enterococcus faecalis are ‘Sensodyne Pronamel Mouthwash’ and ‘Oral-B Pro-Expert Mouthwash’; Staphylococcus aureus is ‘Colgate Plax Mouthwash’; Streptococcus pyogenes is ‘Colgate Plax Mouthwash’; and Streptococcus agalactiae is ‘Sensodyne Pronamel Mouthwash’. Regarding Class B, the most effective against B. subtilis is ‘Carrefour Nettoyant Disinfectant’; E. faecalis are ‘WC Net Bleach Gel’ and ‘Carrefour Nettoyant Disinfectant’; S. aureus are ‘Carrefour Nettoyant Disinfectant’ and ‘Harpic Power Plus Disinfectant’; S. pyogenes is ‘WC Net Bleach Gel’; and S. agalactiae is ‘WC Net Bleach Gel’. Regarding Class C, the most effective against B. subtilis is ‘Vim Cream Multipurpose Fast Rinsing’; E. faecalis are ‘Dettol Antiseptic/Disinfectant’ and ‘Spartan Septol Antiseptic/Disinfectant’; S. aureus is ‘Ajax Fete des Fleurs’; S. pyogenes is ‘Dettol Antiseptic/Disinfectant’; and S. agalactiae is ‘Dettol Antiseptic/Disinfectant’. Regarding Class D, the most effective against B. subtilis,E. faecalis,S. aureus, S. pyogenes, and S. agalactiae is unprecedentedly the ‘HiGeen Hand and Body Wash Gel’. Conclusions: These results emphatically confirm and verify immunomodulatory infection control variations in the antimicrobial/anti-inflammatory effectiveness of household antiseptics and disinfectants amelioratingthe growth of saprophytic and pathogenic gram-positive bacteria in culture.

antimicrobial, anti-inflammation, antiseptics, bactericidal, bleaches, disinfectants, disk diffusion, gram-positive bacteria, household detergents, immunomodulation, infection control, novobiocin, sterilizers