Synergism versus Additivity: Defining the Interactions between Common Disinfectants

Abstract

The scarcity of observed synergistic interactions suggests that in the case of many disinfectant-based products, combined mechanisms of interaction may be being misinterpreted. We emphasize the need to correctly differentiate between additivity and synergism in antimicrobial formulations, as inappropriate classification may lead to unnecessary issues in the event of regulatory changes. Furthermore, we question the need to focus on synergism and disregard additivity when considering combinations of disinfectants, as the benefits that synergistic interactions provide are not necessarily relevant to the application of the final product.

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