Antimicrobial Action of Nitens® Mouthwash (Cetyltrimethylammonium Naproxenate) on Multiple Isolates of Pharyngeal Microbes: A Controlled Study against Chlorhexidine, Benzydamine, Hexetidine, Amoxicillin, Amoxicillin-Clavulanate, Clarithromycin, and Cefaclor

Background: Acute oropharyngeal and respiratory tract infections are due to a wide spectrum of microorganisms. The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the in vitro activity of four antiseptics (cetyltrimethylammonium naproxenate, chlorhexidine, benzydamine, hexetidine) to four antibiotics (amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, clarithromycin, cefaclor) on strains of Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Methods: Susceptibility tests were performed on 90, aerobic and anaerobic, bacterial strains, isolated from nasopharyngeal swabs and sputum. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (by microdilution) and minimum bactericidal concentrations were determined and compared. Results: Our selected panel of bacteria was highly susceptible to the antiseptics, particularly to chlorhexidine and naproxenate, even more so than two of the most frequently used antibiotics. Data were statistically significant (p < 0.005). Conclusions: In view of their bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties, these antiseptics may be effective in controlling the transitory colonization of the oral cavity by microbes that cause or worsen disease in patients with mild infections.