BURNS: Topical Agents – Antimicrobial Creams

Question 1

Silver nitrate 0.5%

Uses and Advantages (6)

Disadvantages (5)

Answer 1

Silver nitrate 0.5%

Uses and Advantages

1. ›› Used on wounds exposed to air, or with modified or
2. occlusive dressing
3. ››May affect joint movement
4. ›› Reduces fluid evaporation
5. ›› Bacteriostatic against pseudomonas and staphylococcus
6. ›› Inexpensive

Disadvantages

1. ›› Does not penetrate eschar
2. ›› Stains clothing and linen
3. ›› Discolors wound, making assessment
4. difficult
5. ›› Painful on application

Question 2

Silver sulfadiazine 1% (Silvadene)

Uses and Advantages

Disadvantages

Answer 2

Silver sulfadiazine 1% (Silvadene)

Uses and Advantages

1. Used with occlusive dressings
2. Maintains joint mobility
3. Effective against gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, and yeast

Disadvantages

1. May cause transient neutropenia
2. Contraindicated with allergies to sulfa
3. Does not penetrate eschar
4. Painful to remove from wound
5. Decreases granulocyte formation

Question 3

Mafenide acetate (Sulfamylon)

Uses and Advantages (7)

Disadvantages (4)

Answer 3

Mafenide acetate (Sulfamylon)

Uses and Advantages

1. ›› Used on wounds exposed to air
2. ›› Used as a solution for occlusive dressings to keep the
3. dressing moist
4. ›› Penetrates eschar and goes into underlying tissues
5. ›› Effective with electrical and infected wounds
6. ›› Biostatic against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria

Disadvantages

1. ›› Painful to apply and remove
2. ››May cause metabolic acidosis or hyperpnea
3. ›› Inhibits wound healing
4. ›› Hypersensitivity may develop

Question 4

Bacitracin

Uses and Advantages (4)

Disadvantages (1)

Answer 4

Bacitracin

Uses and Advantages

1. ›› Used on wounds exposed to air or with modified dressings
2. ››Maintains joint mobility
3. ›› Bacteriostatic against gram-positive organisms
4. ›› Painless and easy to apply

Disadvantages

1. ›› Limited effectiveness on gram-negative

organisms