The application of active ingredients, exemplified by GML, to absorbent fibers, such as rayon fibers, used in tampon manufacture at very low levels has been found to maintain efficacy in the inhibition of the production of toxic shock syndrome toxin one (TSST-1) produced by S. aureus without overtly killing the microorganism to achieve the desired reduction while avoiding undesired test results that suggest the presence of “impurities” in some jurisdictions.