Comparison of topical antibiotic ointments, a wound protectant, and antiseptics for the treatment of human blister wounds contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus. 1987

J J Leyden, and N M Bartelt

An open, randomized, human-model study was conducted to compare the effects of topical antibiotics, a wound protectant, and antiseptics on the rate of wound healing and bacterial growth using a modification of a method employing ammonium hydroxide-induced intradermal blisters inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus. Each volunteer in the study had six blister wounds (three per forearm) to which a triple antibiotic (neomycin, polymyxin B, bacitracin) ointment or one of four other test agents was applied twice a day. A control wound remained untreated. All wounds were covered with an occlusive dressing after treatment. The time to healing (100 percent epithelialization) was evaluated for each wound. Wounds were cultured for bacterial growth after two treatments. Contaminated blister wounds treated with the triple antibiotic ointment healed significantly faster (mean nine days) than wounds treated with any antiseptic and those receiving no treatment. Only the neomycin-polymyxin B-bacitracin combination effectively eliminated bacterial contamination of the wounds after two applications (within 16 to 24 hours after contamination with Staphylococcus aureus). The overall clinical appearance and healing rates of wounds treated with the triple antibiotic were ranked superior to all treatments (and no treatment) except the other antibiotic ointment in the study.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009824 Ointments Semisolid preparations used topically for protective emollient effects or as a vehicle for local administration of medications. Ointment bases are various mixtures of fats, waxes, animal and plant oils and solid and liquid hydrocarbons. Ointment,Paste,Pastes,Salve,Unguent,Salves,Skin Ointment,Unguents,Ointment, Skin
D011897 Random Allocation A process involving chance used in therapeutic trials or other research endeavor for allocating experimental subjects, human or animal, between treatment and control groups, or among treatment groups. It may also apply to experiments on inanimate objects. Randomization,Allocation, Random
D001768 Blister Visible accumulations of fluid within or beneath the epidermis. Bulla,Vesication,Bleb,Bullae,Bullous Lesion,Blebs,Blisters,Bullous Lesions,Lesion, Bullous,Lesions, Bullous,Vesications
D003879 Dermatologic Agents Drugs used to treat or prevent skin disorders or for the routine care of skin. Agent, Dermatologic,Agent, Dermatological,Agents, Dermatologic,Dermatologic Agent,Dermatological Agents,Agents, Dermatological,Dermatological Agent
D004338 Drug Combinations Single preparations containing two or more active agents, for the purpose of their concurrent administration as a fixed dose mixture. Drug Combination,Combination, Drug,Combinations, Drug
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000279 Administration, Cutaneous The application of suitable drug dosage forms to the skin for either local or systemic effects. Cutaneous Drug Administration,Dermal Drug Administration,Drug Administration, Dermal,Percutaneous Administration,Skin Drug Administration,Transcutaneous Administration,Transdermal Administration,Administration, Dermal,Administration, Transcutaneous,Administration, Transdermal,Cutaneous Administration,Cutaneous Administration, Drug,Dermal Administration,Drug Administration, Cutaneous,Skin Administration, Drug,Administration, Cutaneous Drug,Administration, Dermal Drug,Administration, Percutaneous,Administrations, Cutaneous,Administrations, Cutaneous Drug,Administrations, Dermal,Administrations, Dermal Drug,Administrations, Percutaneous,Administrations, Transcutaneous,Administrations, Transdermal,Cutaneous Administrations,Cutaneous Administrations, Drug,Cutaneous Drug Administrations,Dermal Administrations,Dermal Drug Administrations,Drug Administrations, Cutaneous,Drug Administrations, Dermal,Drug Skin Administrations,Percutaneous Administrations,Skin Administrations, Drug,Skin Drug Administrations,Transcutaneous Administrations,Transdermal Administrations
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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