Prospective Single-Center Observational Study of the Allergenic Potential of Mercromina Film and Other Common Antiseptics in Patients With Contact Dermatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Although Mercromina Film and other topical antiseptics are widely used, they are not included in the standard series recommended by the Spanish Contact Dermatitis and Skin Allergy Research Group for testing suspected allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Furthermore, no recent studies have investigated the allergenic potential of merbromin.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the allergenic potential of merbromin and compare it with that of other topical antiseptics widely used in clinical practice, including povidone-iodine, chlorhexidine, and eosin.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective single-center observational safety study of 105 patients with suspected ACD seen at the dermatology department of our hospital.

RESULTS: Of the 105 patients studied, 1.9% had a positive patch test to merbromin and 12.4% were sensitized to povidone-iodine. The differences in the proportion of patients with ACD to Betadine Solución Dérmica (povidone-iodine) compared with the rest of the antiseptics was statistically significant (McNemar test, P<.05). No adverse reactions were observed in any of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the patch tests conducted, Mercromina Film has very low allergenic potential. The highest allergenic potential was observed for povidone-iodine.