EFFECTIVENESS OF A NEW ANTIMICROBIAL EMOLLIENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ECZEMA DERMATITIS/

A new antimicrobial emollient (Dermol 500 Lotion) has been developed c ontaining the antiseptics benzalkonium chloride and chlorihexidine hyd rochloride. In vitro and in vivo studies have been performed to confir m its antimicrobial activity particularly against Staphylococcus aureu s, the bacterial species increasingly implicated in the colonization a nd secondary infection associated with eczema/dermatitus and its relat ed pruritus. Dermol 500 Lotion was also shown to have a more powerful antimicrobial effect than E45 Cream, a comparator bland but preserved emollient. In a clinical trial of children with atopic dermatitis, Der mol 500 Lotion was effective and well liked by the majority of patient s, especially when compared to previously used emollients.