TOPICAL ANTIMICROBIAL PROPHYLAXIS IN MINOR WOUNDS

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of a novel topical antimicrobial ge l containing cetrimide, bacitracin, and polymyxin B sulfate to prevent infections of minor wounds. DESIGN: A clinical trial compared the tes t preparation with placebo and a povidone iodine antiseptic cream. SET TING: Five primary schools in Sydney, Australia, participated in the s tudy over a 6-week spring/summer school term, SUBJECTS: Children aged 5-12 years with parental consent were eligible for study participation , Accidental injuries occurring at school were treated in a standardiz ed manner by nurses at each site, OUTCOME MEASURES: Wounds were evalua ted by the medical practitioner after 3 days of topical treatment. The clinical outcome was classified as resolution or suspected infection. If a clinical infection was suspected, the injury was swabbed for mac robiologic evaluation. Growth of a dominant microorganism was classifi ed as a microbiologic infection. RESULTS: Of the 177 injuries treated, there were nine clinical infections. A comparison of these showed a s ignificant difference among treatment groups (p < 0.05). This differen ce was associated with the test preparation and placebo; the test prep aration reduced the incidence of clinical infection from 12.5% to 1.6% (p < 0.05; 95% CI, 0.011 to 0.207), A comparison of microbiologic inf ections showed no significant differences among treatment groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The novel gel preparation containing cetrimide, ba citracin, and polymyxin B sulfate showed therapeutic action and reduce d the incidence of clinical infections in minor accidental wounds. It may be a suitable product for first aid prophylaxis.