Effective amounts of the inhibitory compounds described herein capable of significantly reducing the production of TSST-1 are as follows: (1) compounds of Structure (I): from about 0.0001 micromoles/gram absorbent product to about 0.08 micromoles/gram absorbent product, desirably from about 0.0005 micromoles/gram of absorbent product to about 0.05 micromoles/gram of absorbent product; and (2) compounds of Structures (II) and (III): from about 0.05 micromoles/gram of absorbent product to 5 micromoles/gram of absorbent product, desirably from about 0.1 micromoles/gram of absorbent product to about 1 micromole/gram of absorbent product. Specifically, effective amounts of hexachlorophene include from about 0.00024 micromoles/gram of absorbent product to about 0.08 micromoles/gram of absorbent product, desirably from about 0.001 micromoles/gram of absorbent product to about 0.05 micromoles/gram of absorbent product. Specifically, effective amounts of triclosan include from about 0.0005 micromoles/gram of absorbent product to about 0.03 micromoles/gram of absorbent product. Specifically, effective amounts of cerulenin include from about 0.1 micromoles/gram of absorbent product to about 1 micromole/gram of absorbent product.