Not Exactly a Silver Bullet

Silver sulfadiazine cream impairs wound healing of thermal burns in mouse skin.

Burn wounds are often treated with 1% silver sulfadiazine (SSD) cream. People commonly believe that the antimicrobial effects of SSD help to heal wounds by suppressing bacterial colonization and preventing infection. But does treatment with SSD really foster wound healing?

Investigators caused two standardized third-degree (full-thickness) burns on the dorsal skin of mice. Wounds on 46 mice were treated with SSD, while wounds on 56 mice were left untreated as controls. Photographs were taken daily, and changes in wound areas were assessed by computer software. Histologic samples were taken and stained to study the extent of neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, the degree of collagen deposition, and the amount of inflammatory granulation t…

Reviewing Author

Mark V. Dahl, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Ulthera, Inc.; AuBio LifeSciences, LLC; Paris Therapeutics

Equity Elorac, Inc.; Makucell, Inc.; Paris Therapeutics

Editorial boards UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societiesNational Rosacea Society (Chairman, Medical Board)