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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Antimicrobial Characterization of Advanced Materials for Bioengineering Applications
Published on: August 4, 2018
A comparison of antibacterial activity against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative
Charlene G Echague1, Pamela S Hair, Kenji M Cunnion
1Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
Objective:
Antibiotic resistance is increasing among organisms that commonly cause wound infections. Therefore, it becomes increasingly desirable to prevent wound infections as systemic antibiotic treatment of established wound infections becomes more difficult, more expensive, and potentially more toxic. The ability to incorporate antimicrobial compounds into modern wound dressings provides an opportunity to prevent wound infections without the risk of systemic toxicity, thus diminishing morbidity, mortality, and cost to the healthcare system.
Design:
In these studies, the authors tested 16 antimicrobial agents in a unique composite wound dressing (TheraGauze; Soluble Systems, LLC, Newport News, Virginia) against clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates and Gram-negative organisms commonly associated with wound infections and antibiotic resistance. Disk diffusion susceptibility testing is used to quantify antimicrobial activity.
Results:
Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity was found for the following agents in the composite wound dressing: hydrogen peroxide, tobramycin, chlorhexidine digluconate, chlorhexidine gluconate, levofloxacin, and silver.
Conclusion:
These studies suggest that potent local antibacterial activity can be achieved with several antimicrobials in this wound dressing.
Insights
Incorporating antimicrobials into wound dressings offers a promising strategy to combat rising antibiotic resistance. This approach provides potent local antibacterial activity, preventing infections without systemic toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Infection Control
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Increasing antibiotic resistance complicates treatment of common wound infections.
- Systemic antibiotic therapy for wound infections carries risks of toxicity, increased cost, and reduced efficacy.
- Antimicrobial-loaded wound dressings offer a localized approach to infection prevention, mitigating systemic risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of incorporating various antimicrobial agents into a composite wound dressing.
- To assess the potential of these antimicrobial wound dressings in combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
- To explore a strategy for preventing wound infections with reduced systemic toxicity.
Main Methods:
- Testing of 16 antimicrobial agents within a novel composite wound dressing (TheraGauze).
- Evaluation against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and common Gram-negative wound pathogens.
- Quantification of antimicrobial activity using disk diffusion susceptibility testing.
Main Results:
- Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity was demonstrated for hydrogen peroxide, tobramycin, chlorhexidine digluconate, chlorhexidine gluconate, levofloxacin, and silver.
- These agents exhibited significant efficacy when incorporated into the composite wound dressing.
- The dressing effectively inhibited the growth of tested antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Conclusions:
- The composite wound dressing can effectively deliver potent local antibacterial activity.
- Several antimicrobial agents show promise for integration into wound dressings to manage resistant organisms.
- This localized antimicrobial delivery system presents a viable strategy for wound infection prevention.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
01:28Antimicrobial Effectiveness