Cellular and Bacterial Toxicities of Topical Antimicrobials

Cellular and bacterial toxicities of four commonly used topical antimicrobials (1% povidone-iodine, 3% hydrogen peroxide, 0.25% acetic acid, and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite) were assayed in vitro using cultures of human fibroblasts and Staphylococcus aureus. All agents tested at full strength killed 100 percent of exposed fibroblasts. Fibroblast toxicity exceeded bacterial toxicity with serial dilutions of hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. Dilutions of povidone-iodine (1:1000) and sodium hypochlorite (1:100) were identified where no fibroblast toxicity occurred while full bactericidal activity persisted.