Sodium fusidate 2% ointment

Background: Electrosurgery is a common surgical technique used to treat skin tumors. This procedure produces necrotic skin, which might impair the wound healing process, prompting physicians to prescribe topical antibiotics to prevent infection. This study aims to analyze the efficacy of sodium fusidate ointment compared to petrolatum for wound healing after electrosurgery. Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, controlled study with a within-person design. The inclusion criteria were adult subjects with seborrheic keratosis or acrochordon with a size of 4 mm to 10 mm on the face and neck, with a minimum of 2 lesions. Electrodessication was performed on the subject lesions. The patients were then randomized to receive and sodium fusidate ointment or petrolatum. Follow-up was done for up to 14 days, during which wound healing score, erythema, edema, crusts, re-epithelialization, incidence of infection, and subjective symptoms were assessed. This study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05353374). Results: Twenty-two subjects with 90 wounds were enrolled. The subjects had a mean age of 48.18 ± 11.25 years old and 86.4% of them had seborrheic keratosis. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in erythema, edema, crusts, re-epithelialization, infection, subjective symptoms, and total wound healing score appearance on days 3, 7, and 14 following the procedure. Conclusion: Both sodium fusidate ointment and petrolatum showed similar efficacy for wound healing after electrosurgery.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC

Bioactive linear choline-based copolymers were developed as micellar carriers for drug delivery systems (DDSs). The polymethacrylates containing trimethylammonium groups with p-aminosalicylate anions (PAS-based copolymers: series 1) or chloride anions (Cl-based copolymers: series 2) differing in ionic content and chain length were selected for drug loading. The diverse structures of amphiphilic copolymers made it possible to adjust the encapsulation efficiency of a well-known antibiotic, i.e., p-aminosalicylate in the form of sodium salt (PASNa) or acid (PASA), providing single drug systems. Goniometry was applied to verify the self-assembly capacity of the copolymers using the critical micelle concentration (CMC = 0.03-0.18 mg/mL) and the hydrophilicity level quantifying the surface wettability of polymer film using the water contact angle (WCA = 30-53°). Both parameters were regulated by the copolymer composition, indicating that the increase in ionic content caused higher CMC and lower WCA, but the latter was also modified to a less hydrophilic surface by drug encapsulation. The drug content (DC) in the PAS-based polymers was increased twice by encapsulation of PASNa and PASA (47-96% and 86-104%), whereas in the chloride-based polymer systems, the drug was loaded in 43-96% and 73-100%, respectively. Efficient drug release was detected for PASNa (80-100% series 1; 50-100% series 2) and PASA as complete in both series. The strategy of loading extra drug by encapsulation, which enhances the drug content in the copolymers containing anions of the same pharmaceutics, provided promising characteristics, which highlight the potential of PAS-loaded micellar copolymers for drug delivery.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Background/Objectives: The widespread use of mupirocin and fusidic acid for the treatment and decolonization of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) skin infections has led to a rapid emergence of resistant strains, limiting the effectiveness of the few topical agents currently available for clinical use. Methods: In this study, we evaluate Fe(tropo)3, a neutral and lipophilic iron(III)-tropolone complex, as a non-antibiotic topical antimicrobial candidate for the management of drug-resistant SA skin and soft tissue infections. Results: Fe(tropo)3 exhibits potent in vitro activity against methicillin-susceptible SA, methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA), vancomycin-intermediate SA, and strains with high-level resistance to mupirocin and fusidate, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 2 µg/mL across all tested isolates. The compound effectively penetrates bacterial cells, induces intracellular iron accumulation, and triggers dose-dependent reactive oxygen species generation, resulting in rapid bacterial killing and significant antibiofilm activity. Importantly, Fe(tropo)3 shows a slower development of resistance compared with ciprofloxacin and displays synergistic activity with oxacillin against MRSA. When formulated as a 1% topical ointment, Fe(tropo)3 significantly reduces bacterial burden in a murine excisional wound infection model, achieving a 98% ± 1% reduction in SA load without detectable hemolysis or skin irritation. Conclusions: These pilot study results support Fe(tropo)3 as a clinically relevant, mechanism-distinct topical antimicrobial with potential utility in settings where resistance to existing topical antibiotics compromises standard care.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Background: The application of topical medications to facilitate the healing process and prevent infection continues to be an essential component of treatment for all types of wounds. Methods: Silver nanoparticles loaded with sodium fusidate were produced through chemical reduction using trisodium citrate as the reducing agent. The silver nanoparticles were initially produced and then incorporated into a gel prepared using carbomer 940 and triethanolamine. The sodium fusidate-loaded silver nanoparticles were characterized by pH, polydispersity index (PDI), and globular diameter. Results: The novel formula exhibited a globular diameter of 668.2±0.2 nm, normal homogeneous dispersion (PDI, 0.567±0.002), and a pH of 6.2±0.05. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first sodium fusidate-loaded silver nanoparticles nano-drug delivery system. Its preclinical and clinical applications seem promising.

Abstract licence: CC BY