Silver sulfadiazine has broad antimicrobial activity. It is bactericidal for many gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria as well as being effective against yeast. Results from
in vitrotesting are listed below. Sufficient data have been obtained to demonstrate that silver sulfadiazine will inhibit bacteria that are resistant to other antimicrobial agents and that the compound is superior to sulfadiazine. Studies utilizing radioactive micronized silver sulfadiazine, electron microscopy, and biochemical techniques have revealed that the mechanism of action of silver sulfadiazine on bacteria differs from silver nitrate and sodium sulfadiazine. Silver sulfadiazine acts only on the cell wall to produce its bactericidal effect.
Results of
In VitroTesting With Silver Sulfadiazine Cream, 1% Concentration of Silver Sulfadiazine
Number of Sensitive Strains / Total Number of Strains Tested
Genus and Species 50 micrograms/mL 100 micrograms/mL
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa 130/130 130/130
Xanthomonas (Pseudomonas)
Maltophilia 7/7 7/7
Enterobacter Species 48/50 50/50
Enterobacter cloacae 24/24 24/24
Klebsiella Species 53/54 54/54
Escherichia Coli 63/63 63/63
Serratia Species 27/28 28/28
Proteus Mirabilis 53/53 53/53
Morganella Morganii 10/10 10/10
Providencia Rettgeri 2/2 2/2
Proteus Vulgaris 2/2 2/2
Providencia Species 1/1 1/1
Citrobacter Species 10/10 10/10
Acinetobacter Calcoaceticus 10/11 11/11
Stahylococcus Aureus 100/101 101/101
Staphylococcus Epidermidis 51/51 51/51
B-Hemolytic Streptococcus 4/4 4/4
Enterococcus Species 52/53 53/53
Corynebacterium Diphtheriae 2/2 2/2
Clostridium Perfringens 0/2 2/2
Clostridium Perfringens 0/2 2/2
Candida Albicans 43/50 50/50
Silver sulfadiazine is not a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and may be useful in situations where such agents are contraindicated.