title: [Antibacterial activity of copper salts against microorganisms isolated from chronic infected wounds].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The antimicrobial activity of copper (Cu+2) is recognized and used as an antimicrobial agent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of copper against microorganisms obtained from chronic cutaneous wound infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five chemical products that contained copper particles in their composition were tested (zeolite, silica, acetate, nitrate and nanoparticle of copper). The antimicrobial activity against antibiotic resistant strains usually isolated from chronic cutaneous wound infections was determined for two of the products with better performance in copper release.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations of copper acetate and nitrate were similar, fluctuating between 400-2,000 µg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The studied copper salts show great potential to be used to control both gram positive and gram negative, antibiotic resistant bacteria isolated from wound infections.
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Enfermería, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Naldy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Febré
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Báez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingenieria Química y Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Palza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingenieria Química y Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.affiliation: Fundación Instituto Nacional de Heridas, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aburto
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Tecnologia Médica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012492:Salts / Q000494:pharmacology; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012492:Salts; D003300:Copper