Zinc Tape Treatment of Burns Infected by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Abstract

Third-degree burns on guinea pigs were infected with P. aeruginosa. The wounds were treated with a zinc tape, a gauze sponge or a plastic foil. In tissue specimens from the wounds, less growth of Pseudomonas was found in zinc tape-treated wounds than in gauze- or plastic foil-treated wounds. In vitro it was found that zinc oxide possesses an antibacterial effect on P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.