Zinc tape treatment of burns infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: an experimental study on guinea pigs.

Third-degree burns on guinea pigs were infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The wounds were treated with a zinc tape, a gauze sponge, or a plastic foil. In tissue specimens from the wounds, less growth of Pseudomonas was found in zinc tape treated wounds than in gauze- or plastic foil treated wounds. In vitro it was found that zinc oxide possesses an antibacterial effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.