Effects of three different topical antibacterial dressings on Acinetobacter baumannii-contaminated full-thickness burns in rats.

In this animal study, three topical antibacterial dressings, Acticoat, chlorhexidine acetate 0.5% and silver sulfadiazine 1%, were compared in the treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii contamination of burns. All treatments were effective and prevented the organism invading the muscle and causing systemic infection, so there were significant differences between the results of the treatment groups and the control group. Mean eschar concentrations did not differ significantly between the silver sulfadiazine and chlorhexidine acetate groups, but there were significant differences between these and the Acticoat group, indicating that Acticoat eliminated A. baumannii from the tissues more effectively.