A new in vitro model to test the effectiveness of topical antimicrobial agents. Use of an artificial eschar.

An in vitro method using a burn eschar 'equivalent' is described to compare the efficacy of several antimicrobial creams. Fragments of lyophilized pigskin were used as 'germ carriers' and after 24 h of treatment the effectiveness of the antimicrobial creams was tested through the evaluation of bacterial recovery both from the surface and from within the 'germ carriers'. The results showed a striking full skin thickness effectiveness of 0.5 per cent chlorhexidine, 10 per cent providone iodine and 2 per cent cerium nitrate in comparison with the weak activity demonstrated by 1 per cent silver sulphadiazine cream.