A method for inhibiting the growth of a microorganism using an effective amount of one or more of the following synthetic brominated furanones: (i) 4-bromo-5Z-(bromomethylene)-3-methylfuran-2-one (ii) 3-(dibromomethyl)-5-(dibromomethylene)furan-2-one (iii) 3-(bromomethyl)-5-(dibromomethylene)furan-2-one (iv) 4-bromo-3-(bromomethyl)-5Z-(bromomethylene)furan-2-one or (v) 4-bromo-5-(dibromomethyl)-3-methylfuran-2(5H)-one. The brominated furanones inhibit the growth of both fungi and bacteria, including the fungal species Candida albicans, Gloeophyllum trabeum, Chaetomium globosum, and Trametes versicolor and the bacterial species Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The brominated furanones can be used topically or internally to treat human infections, and can be used to treat other objects, such as wood building supplies, to prevent fungal rot.
