Gold(I) complexes as antimicrobial agents

Seven gold complexes were prepared and investigated for biocidal activity against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, fungi and protozoa. All of them were active against the tested microorganisms with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In many cases minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were well below 1 μg:ml. The activity is not simply related to the gold content, but also to the nature of both the phosphine and the aminothiol to which the metal is bound.