Compositions including an aromatic compound for inhibiting the production of exoproteins by Gram positive bacteria are disclosed. The aromatic inhibitory compounds of the present invention have the general formula: ##STR1##

wherein R¹ is selected from the group consisting of H, ##STR2##

—OR⁵, —R⁶C(O)H, —R⁶OH, —R⁶COOH, —OR⁶OH, —OR⁶COOH, —C(O)NH₂, ##STR3##

and NH₂ and salts thereof; R⁵ is a monovalent saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl moiety; R⁶ is a divalent saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl moiety; R⁷ is a trivalent saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl moiety; R⁸ is a monovalent substituted or unsubstituted saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl moiety which may or may not be interrupted with hetero atoms; R², R³, and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COOH, and —C(O)R⁹; R⁹ is hydrogen or a monovalent saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl moiety.