What is the Difference Between Chlorhexidine and Chloroxylenol?

Chlorhexidine and chloroxylenol are both antiseptics, but they have distinct differences in their residual activity and applications. Here are the key differences between the two:

1. Residual Activity: Chlorhexidine has a high residual activity, meaning it continues to act on microorganisms even after the initial application. In contrast, chloroxylenol has minimal residual activity.
2. Skin Disinfection: Chlorhexidine is suitable for skin disinfection, while chloroxylenol is not. This is because chlorhexidine has been shown to have a lower number of CFUs (colony-forming units) of bacteria after skin preparation, as well as fewer heavy bacterial growth cultures compared to chloroxylenol.
3. Applications: Chlorhexidine is primarily used for skin disinfection and has been found to be more efficacious in preoperative skin preparation compared to chloroxylenol. Chloroxylenol, on the other hand, is more suitable for controlling bacteria, algae, and fungi in adhesives, emulsions, paints, and wash tanks.

In summary, chlorhexidine is a more effective antiseptic for skin disinfection due to its high residual activity, while chloroxylenol is more suitable for controlling microorganisms in various industries but is not recommended for skin disinfection.

Comparative Table: Chlorhexidine vs Chloroxylenol

Here is a table comparing the differences between chlorhexidine and chloroxylenol:

Please note that some studies have found that the efficacy of chlorxydine-containing surgical scrub preparations is comparable to that of chloroxylenol-containing preparations. This suggests that chloroxylenol may have some use in certain antiseptic applications, despite its lower residual activity compared to chlorhexidine.