Disinfectants/antiseptics in the management of guinea worm ulcers in the rural areas

• Published in: Acta tropica Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 33 - 38
• Main Authors: OGUNNIYI, T. A. B, ONI, P. O, JUBA, A, ASAOLU, S. O, KOLAWOLE, D. O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier 05.01.2000
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cetrimonium Compounds - pharmacology; Cetrimonium Compounds - therapeutic use; Chlorhexidine - pharmacology; Chlorhexidine - therapeutic use; Diseases caused by nematodes; Disinfectants - pharmacology; Disinfectants - therapeutic use; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dracunculiasis - drug therapy; Dracunculiasis - microbiology; Dracunculosis; Dracunculus Nematode; Drug Combinations; Filariases; Gram-Negative Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Negative Bacteria - isolation & purification; Gram-Positive Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Positive Bacteria - isolation & purification; Helminthic diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Parasitic diseases; Rural Health; Tropical medicine; Ulcer - drug therapy; Ulcer - microbiology; Nigeria; Africa; Human; Dracunculosis; Parasitosis; Helminthiasis; In vitro; Biological activity; Infection; Nematode disease; Antiseptic; Bacteria; Complication; Ulcer; Skin; Filariosis; Disinfecting agent; Clinical isolate
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/s0001-706x(99)00057-1

The effectiveness of trichlorophenol (TCP), chlorhexidine gluconate plus cetrimide (Savlon) and Izal in inhibiting the growth of bacterial isolates from guinea worm ulcers was investigated. Using an adaptation of the method of Russell and Furr (Russell, A.D., Furr, J.R., 1977. The antibacterial activity of a new chloroxylenol preparation containing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. J. Appl. Bacteriol. 43, 253-260) the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the three anti-microbial agents for each of the isolated bacteria was determined. Water drawn from the rural guinea worm endemic sites was autoclaved and used for the various dilutions of the anti-microbial agents. At the manufactures' recommended use-dilutions in cases of wounds/cuts/sores, Savlon showed greater effectiveness than Izal and TCP in this order. Probable organic and inorganic inhibitors in water that is usually employed in diluting anti-microbial agents in the rural areas for the dressing of guinea worm ulcers very likely had greatest effect(s) on TCP and least effect(s) on Savlon.