Uptake of 14C-chlorhexidine diacetate to Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its release by azolectin.

Uptake of 14C-labelled chlorhexidine diacetate (14C-CHA) by wild-type and envelope mutant strains of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was very rapid. Maximum uptake was observed within a contact time of 20 s with no additional binding on increased contact, and was concentration-dependent. In contrast to this rapid binding of 14C-CHA, bactericidal studies revealed that the lethal activity of low concentrations of unlabelled CHA was slow, although higher concentrations had a rapid effect. Comparison of a wild-type strain with its envelope mutants indicated that there was little difference in 14C-CHA uptake, in minimal inhibitory concentrations or in bactericidal activity. Azolectin was found to be an effective neutralising agent of biguanide action, but in in vitro agar tests and in reducing or removing the amount of 14C-CHA taken up by the cells.