Energy dispersive analysis of X-rays study of the distribution of chlorhexidine diacetate and cetylpyridinium chloride on the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage F116

Using an energy dispersive analyser of X-rays fitted to a scanning electron microscope, chlorhexidine was shown not to bind onto F116 bacteriophage, unlike cetylpyridinium chloride, which possibly penetrated the phage. This could explain the difference in viricidal activity between the two compounds.