Choice of Antiseptic Dye in Mixed Infections

Abstract

The comparative value of the three most commonly used antiseptic dyes, gentian violet, mercurochrome-220, and acriflavine, has never been satisfactorily determined. Which of the dyes will give the best results under a given set of conditions is problematical. The dyes appear somewhat specific to certain bacteria. On this account Graham-Smith suggested using a mixture of two or more dyes in the treatment of mixed infection such as are commonly found in wounds.' Churchman has also suggested the advisability of combining two dyes, one active against the gram-positive organisms and the other active against the gram-negative organisms. As the result of Churchman's work a commercial concern has put forth a mixed dye product, acriviolet. This is a mixture of acriflavine and gentian violet. It was assumed that the acriflavine would be effective against the gram-negative organisms and the gentian violet against the gram-positive. Burke and Skinner 2 have suggested the possibility of enhancing dye therapy by rotating the dyes rather than mixing them. Their suggestion was based upon the belief that any dye which will destroy the gram-negative organisms in a mixed infection will also destroy the gram-positive. Furthermore, since bacteria acquire tolerance for antiseptics on exposure to a nonbactericidal solution they considered it more desirable to use a different dye for the second application. The present article describes experiments to determine the comparative bactericidal action of gentian violet, acriflavine and acriviolet for the gram-positive and gram-negative pyogenic organisms commonly found in wounds. Exper. 1.-To determine the comparative resistance to dyes * of a mixture of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria: