Antibacterial activity of phenethyl alcohol and resulting membrane alterations.

The antibacterial activity of phenethyl alcohol (PEA) towards Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium) was investigated. This activity was expressed as IC (inhibitory concentration) and BC (bactericidal concentration). PEA was bactericidal in the concentration range of 90 to 180 mM, these concentrations being 4- to 5-fold higher than the corresponding IC. The mechanism of action of PEA upon the cell membrane of bacteria was also studied. Morphological examination with a transmission electron microscope showed that Gram-negative cell envelopes were permeabilized; for Gram-positive bacteria, the plasmic membrane in S. aureus was solubilized, whereas lesser changes were observed in E. faecium. At lethal concentrations, PEA also induced a rapid and total leakage of K+ ions from the four strains studied. Despite the correlation between alterations in the structural integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane in Gram-negative cells and the loss of cell viability, it cannot be inferred that membrane damage is the only cause of the lethal effect.