title: Residual antimicrobial effect of chlorhexidine digluconate and octenidine dihydrochloride on reconstructed human epidermis.
abstract: The objective of the present investigation was to examine the residual antimicrobial activity after a topical exposure of reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) to equimolar solutions of either chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG, 0.144% w/v) or octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT, 0.1% w/v) for 15 min. RHE-associated antiseptic agents were more effective on Staphylococcus aureus than on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. S. aureus was not detected after 24 h of contact, which demonstrated a microbicidal efficacy of greater than 5-log10 reduction. In contrast, P. aeruginosa was reduced by approximately 2 log10 at the same incubation time, which parallels the growth of the initial inoculum. This result could be interpreted either as a microbiostatic effect or as an adherence of P. aeruginosa to a low positively charged surface. Small amounts of CHG and OCT can penetrate the stratum corneum. Using these antiseptic agents, the viability of keratinocytes was reduced to 65-75% of that of the untreated RHE control following 24 h incubation in the presence of test microorganisms. With consideration of antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic effect, OCT corresponds better to a biocompatible antiseptic agent than CHG.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siebert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007097:Imines; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D007097:Imines; D011725:Pyridines; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; C034213:octenidine; D002710:Chlorhexidine