Efficacy of a nitric oxide dressing in decreasing bacterial counts on human skin

Objective: Inhibiting the proliferation of skin bacteria, using nitric oxide (NO), is a potential strategy to prevent infections. This study evaluated the efficacy of using a new NO releasing film dressing to decrease resident human bacterial skin flora compared with the measured microbial activity underneath control sterile Tegaderm transparent dressings. Methods: A within-subjects design using a sample of convenience compared the bacterial counts under the skin of experimental dressings to those under control dressings. NO releasing film dressings (three) and control dressings (three) were applied without antiseptic preparation to the intact skin on the backs of 67 healthy volunteers. Subsequent skin cultures were obtained from underneath dressing pairs (one experimental and one control) on days three, five, and seven after application. Baseline microflora bacterial counts from uncovered skin was obtained on day three of the study. Comparisons of bacterial counts were analysed. Results: On days three, five and seven, the experimental NO releasing film dressings demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in bacterial count compared with the control dressings. Conclusion: The NO releasing film dressings resulted in significantly lower bacterial colony counts as compared to the control dressings at all time points. Incorporating a NO compound into a dressing has an antibacterial effect lasting a minimum of seven days.