Triclosan(CAS: 3380-34-5)

Triclosan, similar in its uses and mechanism of action to triclocarban, is an antibacterial and antifungal agent found in numerous consumer products, including soaps, detergents, toys, and surgical cleaning treatments. Its efficacy as an antimicrobial agent and the risk of antibacterial resistance remains controversial. Additional research seeks to understand its potential effects on organism and environmental health.

Uses

Initially triclosan was used as a hospital scrub in the 1970s. Since then, it has expanded commercially and is now prevalent in soaps (0.10-1.00%),shampoos, deodorants, toothpastes, mouth washes, and cleaning supplies. It is also incorporated into an increasing number of consumer products, such as kitchen utensils, toys, bedding, socks, and trash bags.

In healthcare, triclosan is used in surgical scrubs and personnel hand washes. Use in surgical units is effective with a minimum contact time of approximately two minutes. More recently, showering with 2% triclosan has become a recommended regimen in surgical units for the decolonization of patients whose skin carries methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Triclosan also has been employed as an effective selective agent in molecular cloning. A bacterial host transformed by a plasmid harboring a triclosan resistant mutant FabI gene (mFabI) as a selectable marker can grow in presence of high dose of triclosan in the culture media.