Topical use of nitrofurazone (furacin) for bacterial dermatitides; effectiveness of therapy and incidence of hypersensitivity reactions.

Abstract

Although the topical application of preparations containing nitrofurazone (Furacin) (5-nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone) has been established to be highly effective in the therapy of various bacterial infections of the skin, many dermatologists believe that use of such preparations is attended by a prohibitive rate of hypersensitivity reactions. Recently our interest in topical therapy with nitrofurazone was rekindled when the application of this substance to chronic leg ulcers, previously resistant to many types of treatment, was attended by marked clearing of the infection and healing of the ulcerations without any adverse reaction. With the stimulus of this clinical situation, an orderly investigation of the efficacy and reactivity of topical treatment with nitrofurazone in a group of dermatological patients was undertaken. Nitrofurazone is a yellow crystalline compound which decomposes at 227 C and darkens slowly on exposure to light. It is bactericidal in vitro for many bacteria, including the majority of those found in