CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF TOPICAL ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTISEPTIC AGENTS ON HUMAN KERATINOCYTES IN-VITRO

The cytotoxicity of commonly used antimicrobial and antiseptic agents to cultured human keratinocytes was investigated, combining a morpholo gic assay with a quantitative neutral red (NR) spectrophotometric assa y. Main outcome criteria of response were the initial cytotoxicity (NR 90) and midpoint cytotoxicity (NR 50) and the highest tolerated dose (HTD), a concentration causing the first observed morphologic alterati ons. These values were compared with commonly administered clinical do ses or calculated doses. Thirty-five agents were evaluated; five agent s were also subjected to an assay for cell morphologic alterations, an d HTD and percentage of cells taking up trypan blue and annihilation d ose were assessed. These studies show that in clinical concentrations many, but not all, agents exert profound cytotoxic effects. The result s suggest that under certain conditions cultured epithelial grafts may be exposed to clinical concentrations of neomycin, clindamycin, framy cetin, erythromycin, gentamicin, and 0.1% solutions of povidone-iodine . Tetrachlorodecaoxygen anion complex (TCDO) should be further evaluat ed as a likely effective cleansing agent before culture grafting.