Allergic contact dermatitis to antibacterial agents

A total lof 192 cases were patch tested for contact dermatitis to topical antibacterial agents, of whom 124 (84 non-medical and 40 medical by profession) cases turned out to be sensitive to one or more antigens. The antibacterial agents selected for the patch testing were Furacin ointment (nitrofurazone), Neomycin cream (neomycin), Soframycin cream (framycetin), Crys-4 (injectable penicillin used topically), Dettol, Genticyn (gentamicin), Savlon, Acriflavine, Achromycin (tetracycline), Ambistryn-S(Injectable Streptomycin used topically), Brilliant green, Bacitracin, Sulphacetamide, Mercurochrome, Gention-violet, Chloromycetin topical (chloramphenicol) and Betadine ointment (povidone-iodine). The maximum positive reactions were shown by Furacin cream (41.6%) followed by Neomycin (40.6%), Soframycin (15.1%), injectable pencillin (13.5%), Dettol (10.9%), Genticyn (8.3%), Savlon (8.3%), Acriflavine (5.2%), Tetracycline (5.2%), injectable streptomycin (3.6%) and Brilliant green (3.6%). The remaining agents did not elicit any reaction in any patient. Ninety nine patients had shown multiple hypersensitivity either to 3 antigens (15 patients) or to 2 antigens (84 patients). Forty healthy volunteers were also tested by similar procedure as control.