The Effects of Nitrofurazone on Wound Healing in Thoracoabdominal Full-thickness Skin Defects

The use of topical antibiotics on wound healing has been a matter of debate for many years because of the effectiveness.

The aim of this study is to investigate the potential effects of topical nitrofurazone, an antibacterial agent, on the healing of full-thickness skin defects created in a laboratory setting.

A total of 42 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: group A (control group; n = 21) and group B (nitrofurazone group; n = 21). Circular full-thickness skin defects about 1 cm x 1 cm in size were formed in the left thoracoabdominal regions of all rats. Local physiological saline was applied to the wound once daily in the control group, and a thin layer of nitrofurazone cream was applied to the wound topically once daily in the nitrofurazone group. The defect sizes of all rats were photographed at baseline and days 3, 7, and 10 of the experiment, and wound size reduction was measured macroscopically on the computer to calculate the healing rates. A total of 7 rats from each group were euthanized on days 3, 7, and 10, and their defected regions were resected. The removed specimens were evaluated histopathologically and scored for inflammatory cells, collagen accumulation, granulation tissue formation, reepithelization, and features of the skin defect (eg, layers of the skin affected, size, whether it involves any abscess-necrosis). Statistical significance was set at P ⟨ .05.

The healing rate had higher values in group B at days 7 and 10 of the experiment (P ⟨ .001). A comparison of the group scores showed that there were statistically significant differences in favor of group B. No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups with respect to granulation tissue formation.

Topically applied nitrofurazone produced positive effects accelerating the wound healing process.