In vitro bactericidal efficacy of a new sun- and heat burn gel

• Published in: Burns Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 748 - 754
• Main Authors: Martineau, Lucie, Dosch, Hans-Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Amorphous gel; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - therapeutic use; Biofilms; Biological and medical sciences; Burns; Burns - microbiology; Gels; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; Pseudomonas Infections - drug therapy; Staphylococcal Skin Infections - drug therapy; Staphylococcus epidermidis - drug effects; Sunscreening Agents - therapeutic use; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Wound Infection - microbiology; Amorphous gel; Burns; Biofilms; Burn; Heat; Skin disease; Bums; Biofilm; In vitro; Sun
• ISSN: 0305-4179; 1879-1409
• DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2006.01.006

We assessed the in vitro bactericidal efficacy of a new sunburn gel (Rescuderm™; RESC) against planktonic and sessile Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSEUD) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (STAPH). While PSEUD levels were 4 log 10 lower than those of STAPH within 24 h of adding RESC to contaminated nutrient broths, all bacterial counts were comparable by 48 h. PSEUD and STAPH levels were then measured after applying either a single or three consecutive aliquots of RESC to polyurethane sponges. Gel was removed after 5 or 20 min, or left on for 72 h. Bacterial counts in placebo-treated sponges had plateaued by 24 h to values above 9 log 10 CFU/mL. In contrast, six out of seven of the RESC application modalities reduced bacterial levels below 4 log 10 CFU/mL for 72 h. RESC remained effective against STAPH despite up to a 24 h treatment delay, irrespective of the number of applications. Repeated RESC applications were required to maintain PSEUD below 4 log 10 CFU/mL when the delay exceeded 7 h. These data demonstrate the differential susceptibility of planktonic and sessile bacteria to RescuDerm™. This product might be a good candidate for reducing the opportunity for wound infection, especially in burns.