Bactericidal and cytotoxic effects of chloramine-T on wound pathogens and human fibroblasts in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cytotoxicity and bactericidal effects of chloramine-T.


METHODS
In vitro study of various concentrations and exposure times to preparations containing human fibroblasts or 1.5 x 10 colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) of 3 gram-positive bacteria-Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S aureus, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis-and 2 gram-negative bacteria-Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa-with and without fetal bovine serum present.


METHODS
Percentage reduction of bacterial growth and percentage of viable fibroblasts 48 hours after exposure.


RESULTS
All gram-positive growth was reduced by 95% to 100%, regardless of dose, with or without serum. E coli (gram-negative; with/without serum) was reduced 94% to 100% at antiseptic concentrations of 300 and 400 ppm. At 200 ppm, E coli growth was fully inhibited without serum present and by 50% with serum. P aeruginosa (gram-negative) was not significantly affected under any conditions. At 100 and 200 ppm, cell viability remained greater than 90% under all experimental conditions. A 300-ppm, 3-minute exposure to chloramine-T resulted in cell viability of up to 70%, with longer exposures producing lower viabilities. Serum did not affect cell viability in any condition.


CONCLUSIONS
In vitro, chloramine-T at 200 ppm for 5 to 20 minutes was effective against 3 virulent gram-positive bacteria without fibroblast damage. At 300 ppm and 3 and 5 minutes, 30% of fibroblasts were damaged and 95% to 100 % of E coli were inhibited, respectively.
Kloth
Luther C
LC
Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Berman
Joseph E
JE
Laatsch
Linda J
LJ
Kirchner
Phyllis A
PA
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002700:Chloramines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013997:Time Factors; D014105:Tosyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002700:Chloramines; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; C016300:chloramine-T