STUDIES ON ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF GENTIAN-VIOLET IMPREGNATED SILASTIC

The antibacterial activity of gentian violet (GV) impregnated silastic discs was studied by measuring the zone of inhibition (ZOI), (in mm) produced by the discs planted on Staphylococcus epidermidis seeded aga r plates. The effect of varying concentration of GV, the duration of a ntibacterial activity and effect of autoclaving were studied. The mean ZOI for 1 per cent GV was 19.28 +/- 0.89 mm and for 2 per cent GV it was 22.55 +/- 0.71 mm (P<0.001). There was no significant difference b etween GV concentrations of 2-5 per cent. Over a period of 1-5 wk, no significant difference was found in the antibacterial activity of GV f or any of the concentrations. In each of the concentrations there was a significant reduction in the ZOI after multiple autoclavings. The st udy thus indicates that it is possible to impart antibacterial propert ies to silastic implants so that their colonization with Staph. epider midis can be prevented and this finding has obvious clinical implicati ons.