In vitro studies of antimicrobial effects of biological dressings. A comparison of the effect of human cadaver split skin grafts; irradiated and deep frozen porcine split skin; and fresh split skin from living humans and pigs.

The in-vitro antimicrobial effect of certain biological dressings was analysed. Glass basins lined with inverted human or pig skin treated and stored in various ways were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Glass basins served as controls. Human split skin from cadavers or living donors, deep frozen or preserved in Histocon and fresh-frozen pig had marked inhibitory activity. Heated skin and beta-irradiated pig skin did not have this effect. The antimicrobial effect was not observed during the first 2 hours of incubation but was present after 24 and 48 hours. It was not dependent on serum factors, It is concluded that when a biological dressings is used, advantage should be taken of its bactericidal activity, as infection is often a problem in sound dressing.