Mafenide acetate is commonly available as
a 10% cream and has been shown to be effective in the prevention and control of
burn wound sepsis. The high osmolarity of the cream has been implicated in the
pain upon application and the neoeschar formation often seen with its use.
Mafenide acetate as a 5%
solution has a lower osmolarity, and clinical trials with this agent have shown it to be both well accepted by patients and effective in
wound preparation. Information concerning its antibacterial efficacy in comparison with other agents, however, has been lacking. Utilizing the Walker
burn model, we have found the 5%
mafenide acetate solution used as gauze soaks to be equal to
mafenide acetate cream and better than
silver sulfadiazine in attaining bacterial control of this experimental
burn wound in the rat. The 5%
solution provided prompt decrease in bacterial counts to less than 10(5) bacteria per gram of tissue in a majority of
wounds by 48 hours of treatment. In addition, such
wounds showed no evidence of neoeschar formation. In light of the efficient bacterial control and rapid preparation of the
wound for grafting seen in this model, more extensive clinical use of the 5%
mafenide acetate solution appears justified.