ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF LIDOCAINE IN MIXTURES WITH DIPRIVAN

We have studied the antibacterial activity of different concentrations of:0.005-2% lidocaine (lignocaine) in mixtures with Diprivan (propofo l), against micro-organisms commonly implicated in sepsis as a result of extrinsically contaminated Diprivan. Bacterial colony counts were r educed progressively with increasing concentrations of lidocaine. Bact eriostatic and bactericidal concentrations of lidocaine were 0.2-2%. L idocaine 2% was not bactericidal for one of the seven organisms tested . By inhibiting bacterial replication, lidocaine, when added to Dipriv an to reduce pain on injection, may possibly reduce the harmful conseq uences if extrinsic contamination occurs.