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Applied Microbiology logoLink to Applied Microbiology
. 1969 Jan;17(1):118–127. doi: 10.1128/am.17.1.118-127.1969

Mode of Action of the Antibacterial Compound Dequalinium Acetate

W B Hugo 1, M Frier 1
PMCID: PMC377624  PMID: 4975451

Abstract

Dequalinium acetate is taken up rapidly by bacterial cells. Unlike the membrane-active drugs exemplified by cetrimide or chlorhexidine, its capacity for damaging the plasma membrane is low. The drug appears to penetrate quite rapidly into the cytoplasm where its effect seems to be exerted. A review of the evidence obtained in this study suggests that nucleic acid-containing components of the cell may be the prime target of this compound.

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Selected References

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