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Comparison of Topical Rifamycin and a Chlorhexidine-Containing Wound Dressing in Infected and Non-Infected
Kadir Yağız Türker1, Irem Saadet Odabaş2, Oya Evirgen2
1Department of General Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract:
AimTo compare topical rifamycin versus a chlorhexidine-containing wound dressing for wound healing and microbial load in infected and non-infected wound models.MethodsThirty rats were studied in two stages across five groups (n = 6). Full-thickness 1 × 2 cm interscapular wounds were created. Group 1 received saline irrigation (control), Group 2 topical rifamycin, Group 3 chlorhexidine-containing dressing (CHD), Group 4 infection with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 followed by rifamycin, and Group 5 the same infection followed by CHD. Animals were housed individually. On day 7, rats were sacrificed and wounds excised; specimens were divided equally for microbiology and histology.ResultsOn day-7 histology, the control group had the lowest wound healing score (7.66 ± 0.82). The highest score occurred in the CHD group (11.33 ± 1.75), followed by the rifamycin group (10.5 ± 0.55). No significant differences were found between non-infected groups (p = 0.292) or infected groups (p = 0.360). In infected groups, the CHD group showed lower total bacterial colony counts and fewer colonies per milligram of tissue, but differences were not significant (p = 0.091, p = 0.200).ConclusionCHD tended to outperform rifamycin in wound healing and limiting bacterial growth, but no significant difference was detected. This study informs clinical use of both products.
Insights
A chlorhexidine-containing wound dressing (CHD) showed a trend toward better wound healing and reduced bacterial load compared to topical rifamycin in rat models. However, neither treatment demonstrated statistically significant superiority in this study.
Area of Science:
- Wound Healing Research
- Infectious Disease Research
- Dermatology and Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Effective wound management is crucial for preventing infection and promoting tissue repair.
- Topical antimicrobials and advanced wound dressings are key interventions.
- Comparing the efficacy of different treatments is essential for clinical decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of topical rifamycin and a chlorhexidine-containing wound dressing (CHD) in promoting wound healing.
- To evaluate the impact of these treatments on microbial load in infected and non-infected wound models.
- To provide data informing the clinical application of rifamycin and CHD.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a rat model with full-thickness wounds.
- Compared five groups: saline control, topical rifamycin, CHD, infected with *Staphylococcus aureus* then treated with rifamycin, and infected then treated with CHD.
- Assessed wound healing via histology and microbial load through bacterial counts on day 7.
Main Results:
- The chlorhexidine-containing wound dressing (CHD) group exhibited the highest wound healing score, followed by the rifamycin group, though differences among non-infected groups were not significant.
- In infected models, the CHD group demonstrated lower bacterial counts than the rifamycin group, but this difference was not statistically significant.
- Histological analysis indicated better wound healing scores in both treatment groups compared to the saline control.
Conclusions:
- The chlorhexidine-containing wound dressing (CHD) showed a tendency towards superior performance in wound healing and bacterial load reduction compared to topical rifamycin.
- No statistically significant differences were observed between rifamycin and CHD for either wound healing or microbial load.
- Findings suggest potential clinical utility for both treatments, with CHD possibly offering a slight advantage.
