Considerations About the Antimicrobial Activity of Oxidized Cellulose and Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose and Their...

Oxidized cellulose (OC) and oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) are bioabsorbable polysaccharide-based materials widely used in surgery for topical hemostasis. Beyond their established hemostatic role, increasing attention has been directed toward their potential antimicrobial activity, primarily attributed to local acidification following carboxyl group dissociation. Discussing the possible implications of the antibacterial properties of OC/ORC in veterinary surgical practice, this review critically examines the existing evidence. In vitro studies show that viable bacterial counts are significantly reduced in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant strains. Historical in vivo animal models further support a reduction in bacterial recovery in contaminated tissues treated with OC. However, contemporary veterinary clinical trials specifically evaluating surgical site infection (SSI) outcomes remain limited. Documented limitations include variability in formulation, quantity-dependent degradation kinetics, and the potential for foreign body reactions when excessive material is retained. Current evidence suggests that OC may provide adjunctive antimicrobial effects under controlled experimental conditions, primarily in vitro and in standardized animal models, but these properties should be interpreted with caution, and its role should be integrated within comprehensive infection prevention strategies rather than considered a substitute for established perioperative protocols.