[In-vitro efficacy of topical antibiotics on bacteria from burns]

The influence of topical antimicrobial agents on bacterial growth was determined with an agar diffusion technique. 349 isolates were tested with mafenide acetate and silver sulfadiazine, 226 isolates were tested with povidone iodine. None of these agents was likewise effective against all organisms of the same bacterial strain. The inhibition of growth by mafenide acetate and silver sulfadiazine demonstrated dose-response. 26 to 40% of the tested grampositive cocci were inhibited by mafenide acetate, whereas the growth of about 26 to 90% of gramnegative rods was effected by silver sulfadiazine, with the exception of proteus species (9%). Both agents influenced the growth of pseudomonas (40 to 65%). The results obtained with povidone iodine led to the consideration that the agar diffusion method might not be suitable for testing this drug.