The Antimicrobial effect of Iso-amyl Cyanoacrylate: An In-vitro study

Introduction: Conventional suture materials tend to accumulate microorganisms which will be the possible cause of surgical wound infection. This led to the use of tissue adhesives like cyanoacrylate. The aim of this study is to assess if iso-amyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive had an inherent antimicrobial effect. Material and Methods: Pure cultures Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans were seeded on agar plates containing Brain Heart infusion agar. Wells filled with different volumes of iso-amyl cyanoacrylate were prepared. Ampicillin and amphotericin B were used as positive controls. The plates were incubated overnight at 37oC and the zone of inhibition was measured. Results: Iso-amyl cyanoacrylate exhibited an inhibitory activity against the gram positive organisms and candida but did not show any effect on the gram negative organism. Conclusion: Iso-amyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives have an antimicrobial effect on gram positive organisms and fungi commonly associated with surgical wound infections. This would be an added benefit these tissue adhesives have over conventional suture materials.