Dequalinium is a quaternary ammonium cation and bolaamphiphile commonly available as the dichloride salt. It is useful as an

antiseptic An antiseptic ( and ) is an antimicrobial substance or compound that is applied to living tissue to reduce the possibility of sepsis, infection, or putrefaction. Antiseptics are generally distinguished from ''antibiotics'' by the latter's abil ...

and

disinfectant A disinfectant is a chemical substance or compound used to inactivate or destroy microorganisms on inert surfaces. Disinfection does not necessarily kill all microorganisms, especially resistant bacterial spores; it is less effective than ...

. The bromide, iodide, acetate, and undecenoate salts are known as well. Dequalinium chloride is the active ingredient of several medications. The dequalinium dication is symmetrical, containing two quaternary quinolinium units linked by an N-decylene chain.

Medical uses

Throat lozenge

Dequalinium chloride 0.25 mg is available as an over-the-counter

throat lozenge A throat lozenge (also known as a cough drop, sore throat sweet, troche, cachou, pastille or cough sweet) is a small, typically medicated tablet intended to be dissolved slowly in the mouth to temporarily stop coughs, lubricate, and soothe irri ...

under brand names such as Dequadin and SP Troche. Mouthwash and buccal sprays at 0.5 % concentration are also available. In this form is it used to treat minor infections of the mouth and throat. It can help with tonsillitis but is not effective in cases of streptococci infections.

Vaginal antiseptic

Dequalinium chloride is available as a 10 mg prescription vaginal tablet for treating vaginal bacterial conditions (i.e.

bacterial vaginosis Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection of the vagina caused by excessive growth of bacteria. Common symptoms include increased vaginal discharge that often smells like fish. The discharge is usually white or gray in color. Burning with urina ...

and aerobic vaginitis). Brand names include Fluomizin, Vablys, and Naxyl. It has been available in much of

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

for several decades and was launched in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

in 2022. It is non-inferior to the

antibiotic An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting pathogenic bacteria, bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the therapy ...

metronidazole Metronidazole, sold under the brand name Flagyl and Metrogyl among others, is an antibiotic and antiprotozoal medication. It is used either alone or with other antibiotics to treat pelvic inflammatory disease, endocarditis, and bacterial vagino ...

in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

Topical cream

In Austria, dequalinium chloride is combined with bacitracin and diphenylpyraline in Eucillin "B", an antibiotic cream. This cream is the first dequalinium-containing product to enter Austria in 1967.

Spectrum of activity

Dequalinium salts have broad bactericidal and fungicidal activity. In OTC oral products containing a low concentration, the product is instead described as a bacteriostat. Dequalinium salts may have antimalarial activities.

Adverse effects

Dequalinium may cause skin necrosis "if administered on intertriginous skin areas under occlusive conditions".

History

Dequalinium was first described by M Babbs and colleagues in 1956, as the first agent of the bisquaternary ammonium chemical class.

References

External links

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Comparative Study of Efficacy of 10 mg Dequalinium Chloride (Fluomizin) in the Local Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis
{{Gynecological anti-infectives and antiseptics Antiseptics Quinolines Quaternary ammonium compounds