{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]],"date-time":"2026-04-24T15:02:28Z","timestamp":1777042948195,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]],"date-time":"2026-04-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776988800000},"content-version":"am","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/journals\/pages\/open_access\/funder_policies\/chorus\/standard_publication_model"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aims<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Antimicrobial resistance, particularly in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), highlights the need for more effective and sustainable disinfection strategies. This study evaluated the bactericidal effects of two conventional biocides\u2014benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and peracetic acid (PAA)\u2014and two phytochemicals\u2014salicylic acid (SAL) and eugenol (EUG)\u2014against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, focusing on potential synergistic interactions.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods and Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Antimicrobial efficacy was assessed through standardized dose- and time-response assays (EN 1276) and kinetic modeling using the Chick\u2013Watson and Weibull equations. BAC and PAA achieved complete bacterial inactivation at 3\u00a0mg\/L and 1\u00a0mg\/L, respectively, within 5\u201315 minutes, confirming rapid and potent activity. Conversely, SAL and EUG required substantially higher concentrations (500\u20131700\u00a0mg\/L) to achieve total loss of culturability. Chick\u2013Watson modelling demonstrated high disinfection rate coefficients for BAC and PAA, while SAL and EUG exhibited markedly lower values. Synergy testing revealed a strong interaction between BAC and EUG, with fractional bactericidal concentration indices of 0.350 for E. coli and 0.309 for S. aureus, whereas other combinations were additive. Weibull modelling further indicated that bacterial tolerance was dependent on compound type and concentration, with S. aureus generally more susceptible than E. coli.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>These findings collectively confirm the enhanced efficacy of selected biocide\/phytochemical combinations, allowing lower concentrations and promoting more sustainable antimicrobial practices.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/jambio\/lxag102","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,23]],"date-time":"2026-04-23T11:44:51Z","timestamp":1776944691000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Synergistic bactericidal effects of conventional biocides and phytochemicals for healthcare disinfection"],"prefix":"10.1093","author":[{"given":"Mariana","family":"Sousa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"LEPABE, ALiCE, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto , Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto ,","place":["Portugal"]}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6929-6805","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anabela","family":"Borges","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LEPABE, ALiCE, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto , Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto ,","place":["Portugal"]},{"name":"Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto DEQB\u2014Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, , Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto ,","place":["Portugal"]}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3355-4398","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel","family":"Sim\u00f5es","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LEPABE, ALiCE, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto , Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto ,","place":["Portugal"]},{"name":"Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto DEQB\u2014Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, , Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto ,","place":["Portugal"]}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]]},"container-title":["Journal of Applied Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jambio\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/jambio\/lxag102\/68153915\/lxag102.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"am","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jambio\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/jambio\/lxag102\/68153915\/lxag102.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]],"date-time":"2026-04-24T13:23:27Z","timestamp":1777037007000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jambio\/advance-article\/doi\/10.1093\/jambio\/lxag102\/8661869"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]]},"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jambio\/lxag102","relation":{},"ISSN":["1365-2672"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1365-2672","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]]},"article-number":"lxag102"}}