A pilot study investigating the in vitro efficacy of sucralfate against common veterinary cutaneous pathogens

To determine whether Cicalfate® (Avene), a commercially available skin cream, or its active ingredient - sucralfate - demonstrate in vitro antimicrobial effect against common veterinary cutaneous pathogens.

Prospective study assessing in vitro susceptibility of standardised and clinical strains of common veterinary cutaneous pathogens to titrated concentrations of sucralfate in either saline solution (range 0∙2 to 200 mg/mL) or in Cicalfate® restorative cream solubilised in DMSO (range 0∙002 to 1 mg/mL). Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by broth dilution in accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.

Both solutions demonstrated in vitro inhibitory effects against strains of Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis. Minimum inhibitory concentration ranges for susceptible bacteria tested in Cicalfate® solution and sucralfate solution were 0∙06 to 0∙25 mg/mL and 25 to 50 mg/mL, respectively. Sucralfate solution did not demonstrate antimicrobial effects against laboratory strains of S. aureus and E. faecalis and neither solution demonstrated antimicrobial effects against the clinical strain of P. aeruginosa. For organisms inhibited by sucralfate, Cicalfate® solution inhibited growth at lower sucralfate concentrations than sucralfate solution.

The results of this pilot study suggest that Cicalfate® and sucralfate demonstrate in vitro antibacterial activity. Further in vitro and clinical studies are warranted to confirm these observations and determine their clinical utility in the treatment of superficial pyoderma.