ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant cause of burn wound infections and, skin and soft tissue infections. The antiseptic management is an integral part of the management of wound infections and is essential to control wound infection. Although commonly used, concerns have been raised. RESULTS: Available experimental data suggest that many commonly used antiseptic agents may be toxic to the cells involved in wound healing process and may affect the process of normal tissue repair. In view of this, the present review summarized the various organic acids commonly used as a substitute for antiseptics to control pseudomonal wound infections with special reference to acetic acid and their role in the process of wound healing. CONCLUSION: Acetic acid is to be kept in mind as one of the alternatives when infection is caused by multiple antibiotic resistant strains of P. aeruginosa. At a time when bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a matter of increasing concern, the value of topical agents such as acetic acid should not be forgotten.
Subject(s)
Acetic Acid/therapeutic use , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/therapeutic use , Pseudomonas Infections/drug therapy , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects , Wound Infection/drug therapy , HumansSubject(s)
Citric Acid/therapeutic use , Escherichia coli Infections/drug therapy , Skin Ulcer/drug therapy , Staphylococcal Skin Infections/drug therapy , Wound Infection/drug therapy , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Chronic Disease , Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Escherichia coli Infections/microbiology , Humans , Male , Staphylococcal Skin Infections/microbiology , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Wound Infection/microbiologyABSTRACT
A case of severe electric burns complicated by multiple antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa not responding to various antibiotics administered systemically is presented. Citric acid (3%) was used successfully to eliminate Pseudomonas aeruginosa from burn wounds and infection was completely controlled in 14 days. Citric acid treatment is evidently of value in the clinical control of burn wound colonization caused by difficult strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
