Norfloxacin and silver-norfloxacin as topical antimicrobial agents: results of in vitro susceptibility testing against bacteria and Candida sp isolated from burn patients.

Because of its broad spectrum of antibacterial action, Norfloxacin, a new quinoline carboxylic acid compound, was formulated in a topical cream base and tested for activity against a variety of bacteria and yeasts isolated from burn patients. An in vitro agar well diffusion topical susceptibility test was used. The silver salt of Norfloxacin also was tested. For comparative purposes, commonly used topical antibacterial and antifungal preparations were examined as well. No bacterial isolate tested was resistant to the action of Norfloxacin or that of silver-Norfloxacin. Furthermore, all Candida organisms assayed were susceptible to silver-Norfloxacin. All other topical agents tested had some strains of bacteria or yeast, or both, that were resistant to their action. Therefore, Norfloxacin and, particularly, silver-Norfloxacin, warrant further development as topical anti-infective agents for use in treating burn patients.