Abstract
Purpose: Many topical agents had been used for contaminated wound treatment. Although antimicrobial ointments were widely used as topical agents, their comparative antibacterial and wound healing effects were largely unreported. The purpose of this study was to compare antibacterial effects and wound healing effects of common topical ointments on infected full thickness skin defect in the mouse. Methods: One full thickness skin defects in the mice (n=60) were developed on the back and left open for twenty-four hours. Sixty mice were divided into four groups: group B (dressing with Bactroban$^{(R)}$, n=15), group I (dressing with Iodosorb$^{(R)}$, n=15), group T (dressing with Terramycin$^{(R)}$, n=15), group G (control group, dressing with dry gauze, n=15). The size of wound defects and the grades of wound healing were evaluated at 4, 7, 10 days, and antibacterial effect was evaluated with restricted zone in Mueller Hinton agar by disk diffusion method. After the wound was left open for twenty-four hours, many Staphylococcus aureus was cultured. The wound defect size was decreased in order of Bactroban$^{(R)}$ (B), Iodosorb$^{(R)}$ (I), Terramycin$^{(R)}$ and gauze dressing group in all days, but difference among experimental groups was not statistically significant. The grade score of wound healing was increased in order of Bactroban$^{(R)}$, Iodosorb$^{(R)}$, Terramycin$^{(R)}$ and gauze dressing group, and the difference was statistically significant. Antibacterial effect for was increased in order of Bactroban$^{(R)}$, Iodosorb$^{(R)}$, Terramycin$^{(R)}$ and gauze dressing group, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Topical antimicrobial ointments application was effective against wound infections by S. aureus. Bactroban$^{(R)}$ may be an optimal topical treatment for infected wounds according to this study. However, further study is necessary to evaluate the clinical efficacy of antimicrobial ointments and to search for the mechanisms that explain their effects.
