title: The cytotoxic effects of commonly used topical antimicrobial agents on human fibroblasts and keratinocytes.
abstract: This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of commonly used topical agents to human dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes, which play a prominent role in wound healing. The effects of these topical agents were assessed using two separate assays for the fibroblasts--tritiated thymidine incorporation and the uptake of a vital dye (neutral red). Keratinocytes were evaluated with the neutral red assay. Serial dilutions of each of 10 commonly used topical agents produced decreases in both the uptake of neutral red and the incorporation of thymidine at clinically relevant doses. Only Neosporin G.U. irrigant showed no significant difference compared with controls in the assays for both the fibroblasts and the keratinocytes. Careful attention must be paid to which agent is used in the clinical setting, since many of these can have profound effects on cells that influence wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego Medical Center 92103.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Laxer
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hansbrough
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D019342:Acetic Acid; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000633:toxicity*; D001414:Bacitracin / Q000633:toxicity; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000633:toxicity; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008272:Mafenide / Q000633:toxicity; D009355:Neomycin / Q000633:toxicity; D009499:Neutral Red / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011112:Polymyxin B / Q000633:toxicity; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000633:toxicity; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000633:toxicity; D013936:Thymidine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D001639:Bicarbonates; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005839:Gentamicins; C069467:modified Dakin's solution; D001414:Bacitracin; D009499:Neutral Red; D008272:Mafenide; C001816:bacitracin zinc, neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B, drug combination; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D009355:Neomycin; D011112:Polymyxin B; D019342:Acetic Acid; D013936:Thymidine