The efficacy of an antimicrobial product is directly proportional to the antimicrobial properties of the active ingredient of the product. Many products contain one or more active ingredients or antimicrobial agents. Products containing various combinations (compounds or complexes) of antimicrobial agents are typically marketed under multiple brand names. Each agent has advantages as well as disadvantages in its usage. It is not uncommon to need more than one class of microbial agent to combat different types of pathogens. Hospitals, on the average, have several different classes in use at any given time.