The wet disc antimicrobial solution assay. An in vitro method to test efficacy of antimicrobial solutions for topical use.

The wet disc antimicrobial solution assay, an in vitro method to test susceptibility/resistance of burn wound-isolated microorganisms against antimicrobial solutions for topical use, is described. Where antibiotic discs for Kirby-Bauer testing were available for antibiotics contained in the topical solutions, Kirby-Bauer assays were done, and the results were compared with those derived using the wet disc assay. More microorganisms were susceptible using the wet disc method compared with the Kirby-Bauer method. The wet disc method could be used to test topical antimicrobial solutions that had no Kirby-Bauer disc equivalent. The wet disc method provided more reliable information for the clinician to use in choosing appropriate topical antimicrobial solutions for treating patients' wounds than the Kirby-Bauer method.