Bacterial inhibition efficiency of prilocaine and bupivacaine.

This study aimed to demonstrate the antibacterial effects of bupivacaine and prilocaine on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In our study, the in vitro antimicrobial effects of 20 mg/mL prilocaine and 5 mg/mL bupivacaine were tested against a S. aureus American-type culture collection (ATCC) 29213, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and E. coli ATCC 25922, divided into Group P (Prilocaine) and Group B (Bupivacaine), respectively. S. aureus ATCC 29213, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and E. coli ATCC 25922 were cultured on Mueller Hinton agar (Oxoid, Basingstoke, UK) plates for 18 to 24 hours at 37°C. In terms of inhibition zone diameters, inhibition of S. aureus ATCC 29213 was observed in both groups at the 12th and 24th hours. The 12th- and 24th-hour S. aureus ATCC 29213 value was significantly higher in Group P compared with Group B (P = .008). At the 12th and 24th hours, inhibition of E. coli ATCC 25922 was observed in both groups. The 12th- and 24th-hour E. coli ATCC 25922 value was significantly higher in Group P compared with Group B (P = .008). In our study, it was seen that prilocaine and bupivacaine had an antimicrobial effect on S. aureus and E. coli. In the comparison between these two local anesthetics (LAs), this effect was found to be significantly higher in prilocaine than bupivacaine. Therefore, we are of the opinion that antimicrobial effect potentials should also be taken into account in the selection of an LA agent in order to prevent the complications of an infection that might develop during LA infiltration and might lead to serious morbidity.