According to pelage et al (1986) antibacterial activity is the ability to either destroy bacteria or inhibit their growth. This is significant with respects to the human body in preventing sepsis and skin infections. Also Derland (1981) states that medicated soap have the germicidal substance like chloroxyhlenol potassium mercuric iodide, trichlorocarbanlide etc. incorporated into them, in order to enhance their antibacterial activity. These germicide substance are normally added in a specified amount and percentage of the substance used are always stated on the soapcase or inside the lesflet which certains the information on how to use the soap for various purposes.
Anon (1964) states that soap may be defined as a chemical compound resulting from the interaction of fathy acids oil and caustic soda (alkali) possesing the characteristic soap like properties of detergents, surface tension lowering wetting and emulsifying power and gel formation. All fatty oils and fats. Are mixtures of glycoside compounds (erters) of trihydric alcohol, glycosides and some fatty acids such as plasmatic acid the chemistry of soap manufacturing may be expressed the following equation which is know as saponification (Anon (1964).
HzCocoG5H31)3 + Na 0H Naoco15H31 (zH31 + c3H5(oH)3
Palliation caustic sodium palurtate glycerion
Soda
Amon (1964) further explain that a bactericidal soap cernirts existentially of the following 0.1 to 3% weight based on the total weight of the soap.
0 to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the soap in a compound of formular
R –Co-N1-CH2C00H
CH3
Here R represents an alkyl or alkenye group of 8 to carbon atoms.
According to Johnson (1978) antibacterial soap may include 2,4,4,trichloro 2,2 hydroxydiphenyl in an amount 0.05 to 5% by weight and at least one phosphorus oxyacid. Phosphorus oxyacid salt phosphoric ester is represented by
(R1(oCH,CH2)
R2
Where R1 in (8-20 alkyl, R2 is hydrogen or methyl and is (1-10). R1 is the same group as R2 or H alkali metal and n is H or alkali metal. Such a soap has a wide range of antibacterial activities and marked resistance of discoloration upon exposure to sunlight (Kaw,1981) another invention relates to an autimicrobial composition consisting of ammoniated zinc sulphate optionally formulated into sufficient formulation and toilet bars. Medicated soap incorporate in their composition germicidal agent which include hexachlorophene mercuric which trichoran, trichlorocarbaucide .
Sykes (1958) described sterilization as the complete destruction of all living matters. In medical sense, it is often used in a restricted sense to refer to the destruction of pathogenic organisms only.