title: Evaluation of toxic side effects of clinically used skin antiseptics in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin antiseptics are widely used in health-care worldwide. However, there is a need to determine cytotoxicity of these medications on wounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate cytotoxic effects of five clinically used antiseptics on human skin cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five clinically used skin antiseptics (Prontosan, Lavasept, Braunol, Octenisept, and Betaisodona) were tested. The minimal inhibitory concentration was determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli). The cytotoxic effects on primary keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and a HaCaT cell line were determined (MTT-assay and BrdU-ELISA) at a wide range of concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The agents tested showed effective antibacterial properties (Octenisept, Lavasept, and Prontosan showed higher efficacy than Braunol and Betaisodona) and different degrees of cytotoxicity. Lavasept and Prontosan demonstrated less toxicity on primary human fibroblasts and keratinocytes, whereas Octenisept, Betaisodona, and Braunol showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in cell viability to 0% on keratinocytes at concentrations of 4%, 7.5%, and 12.5%, and on fibroblasts at 7.5% and 10%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the cytotoxic effect of some antiseptics on human skin cells, it is advised that health care professionals balance the cytotoxicity of the medication, their antiseptic properties, and the severity of colonization when selecting a wound care antiseptic. In this study, Lavasept and Prontosan showed best result regarding antibacterial efficacy and cell toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koerber
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dissemond
authors.forename: Hans-Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Steinau
authors.forename: Sören
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gatermann
authors.forename: Sammy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Benna
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kesting
authors.forename: Hans-Martin
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Seipp
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steinstraesser
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local