The loss of biological activity of the preservative bronopol associated with Fusarium solani

An aqueous antacid formulation normally protected from the growth of microbial contaminants, including opportunist pathogens, with the synthetic preservative Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) became contaminated with Fusarium solani. Contamination with F. solani, at levels below those which would be detected by routine quality control, resulted in the loss of antimicrobial protection. Not only was F. solani relatively resistant to Bronopol but it was able to grow and sporulate in the liquid antacid formulation, in which Bronopol was the only demonstrable source of nitrogen.