Cerium sulphadiazine as a topical agent for burn wound infections: a comparison with silver sulphadiazine and zinc sulphadiazine

Abstract Cerium sulphadiazine was synthesised and compared with silver and zinc sulphadiazine. All three of these metal sulphadiazines are effective, both in vitro and in the prevention of bacterial infection and mortality in burned mice and rats. Animals treated with zinc sulphadiazine exhibit superior wound healing and longer survival. Cerium sulphadiazine, unlike silver and zinc sulphadiazine, binds to DNA instantaneously, forming an insoluble cerium-DNA complex. The toxicity of cerium sulphadiazine is much lower than that of silver or zinc sulphadiazine. The efficacy of silver sulphadiazine, the wound-healing potential of zinc sulphadiazine and the low toxicity of cerium sulphadiazine can be combined to create a superior topical therapy.