title: Antimicrobial activity of clinically used antiseptics and wound irrigating agents in combination with wound dressings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A primary strategy for preventing and treating wound infection in chronic wounds is the use of topical antiseptics and wound irrigating agents. However, their interaction with commonly used wound dressings has not yet been investigated. In this study, the authors analyzed the antimicrobial activity of antiseptics and wound irrigating agents used with commercially available wound dressings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five clinically used antiseptics and wound irrigating agents (Prontosan, Lavasept, Braunol, Octenisept, and Betaisodona) were tested in the presence or absence of 42 wound dressings against Staphylococcus aureus. The determination of antibacterial activity was performed by disk diffusion assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Povidone-iodine-based products showed sufficient antimicrobial activity in 64 to 78 percent of the combinations assessed (p > 0.01). The octenidine derivate Octenisept showed sufficient antimicrobial activity in 54 percent of combinations. Polyhexamethylene biguanide derivatives demonstrated sufficient antimicrobial activity in 32 percent of the combinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that commonly used wound dressings dramatically reduce antibacterial activity of clinically used antiseptics and wound irrigating agents in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Bochum and Giessen, Germany From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Ruhr-University Bochum, and the Department of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, Fachhochschule Giessen-Friedberg.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: Simin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Limoochi-Deli
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lahmer
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Goertz
authors.forename: Hans-Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Steinau
authors.forename: Hans-Martin
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Seipp
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steinstraesser
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001458:Bandages; D001645:Biguanides / Q000494:pharmacology; D007097:Imines; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D001645:Biguanides; D007097:Imines; D011725:Pyridines; C031233:polihexanide; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; C034213:octenidine