Clostridium difficile is a major spore forming bacteria, causing 15-55% of all nosocomial diarrheas. Benzalkonium chloride is a mainstay of phase-transfer catalysis, an important technology in the synthesis of organic compounds, including drugs. [ citation needed] Bioactive agents [ edit ]

In particular, impermeability by additional or architecturally-complex surface layers in addition to the cellular membrane are commonly exhibited by a variety of microorganisms that render BAC less efficacious. Although P. aeruginosa is only a model organism and there have been reports of BAC efficaciously destructing the outer membranes of other Gram-negative species, P. aeruginosa maximizes BAC impermeability as an antiseptic-resistance measure. These interactions effectively outcompete the divalent cations, which normally stabilizes surface structures by linking adjacent negatively-charged components.In the United States, nasal steroid preparations that are free of benzalkonium chloride include budesonide, triamcinolone acetonide, dexamethasone, and Beconase and Vancenase aerosol inhalers. Such agencies regularly update regulations based on current scientific data, occasionally limiting the use of compounds found not to be safe or effective. BAC 50 can be used for the preparation of disinfectants, cleansers, and timber preservation formulations and the production of fungicidal/algicidal washes and other similar applications. Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride has been pre-registered under REACH regulation and notified under the Biocidal Product Directive 98/8/EC (ref: N501).

CAS Number 63449-41-2 Linear Formula C6H5CH2N(CH3)2RCl (R=C8H17 to C18H37) Beilstein/REAXYS Number 4062599 EC Number 264-151-6 MDL number MFCD00145757 NACRES NA.22Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium that can survive on antiseptic-free hands for at least 150 minutes, which is enough time for it to spread and persist as a leading cause of nosocomial infections. The greatest biocidal activity is associated with the C12 dodecyl and C14 myristyl alkyl derivatives. BAC is a quaternary ammonium compound used in pharmaceutical formulations as an antimicrobial preservative in applications similar to other cationic surfactants. BAC 50 is strongly cationic and, therefore, incompatible with formulations containing anionic compounds.