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DERMATOLOGICALS › ANTIBIOTICS AND CHEMOTHERAPEUTICS FOR DERMATOLOGICAL USE › CHEMOTHERAPEUTICS FOR TOPICAL USE › Sulfonamides
silver sulfadiazine
D06BA01
Adult Dosing
- Apply to cleansed, debrided burn wounds approximately 1 to 2 mm thick once or twice daily until healing occurs or grafting is warranted
Pediatric Dosing
- Pediatric patients over 2 months of age: Apply 1 to 2 mm thick once or twice daily
- Contraindicated in premature infants and neonates under 2 months of age due to risk of kernicterus
Indications
- Prevention and treatment of wound sepsis in patients with second- and third-degree burns
Mechanism of Action
- Acts on the cell membrane and cell wall of susceptible bacteria by releasing silver ions, binding to bacterial DNA, and inhibiting bacterial cell division and growth
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to silver sulfadiazine or other sulfonamides
- Pregnancy near term and in premature infants or neonates under 2 months of age (risk of kernicterus)
Adverse Reactions
- Burning, stinging, and skin rash at application site
- Argyria (slate-gray skin discoloration) with prolonged or extensive use
- Leukopenia (typically transient, associated with antibodies to white blood cells)
- Systemic sulfonamide toxicity in extensive burns (e.g., crystalluria, hypersensitivity reactions, hepatic necrosis)
Drug Interactions
- May inhibit the enzymatic action of proteolytic enzymes such as collagenase, sutilains, or papain when applied concurrently, potentially reducing their efficacy in wound debridement
Curated Content: Needs Vetting Before Put to Clinical Use