a limited class of compounds is disclosed for use in low dosage to inhibit the growth of or to kill fungi , gram - positive , and especially gram - negative bacteria . these compounds are members of a family in which the trichloromethylthio group is appended to a nitrogen atom forming part of a ring structure . while a number of the compounds of this general family have some effect against other microorganisms , such as staphylococcus aureus , aspergillus niger , streptoverticillium reticuli , only a few of the compounds in this general family have been found to have an effect against gram - negative bacteria as well . this unique property makes the present compounds especially useful as bacteriostatic and bactericidal agents to be incorporated in resinous materials , such as polymeric resinous materials , whether contained in bulk , film , or liquid solution or dispersion .