Effects of gentamicin solution and cream on the healing of open wounds.

When 0.1% gentamicin solution was applied to full-thickness skin wounds of dogs, the wounds became smaller by contraction during the first 7 days and continued to contract over the next 14 days. Wounds treated with 0.1% gentamicin cream enlarged during the first 7 days, followed by wound contraction over the next 14 days. The wounds treated with gentamicin solution also had more epithelialization at 7 days than did the cream-treated wounds; however, epithelialization of the 2 types of wounds was similar at 14 and at 21 days. Gentamicin solution and cream were effective in controlling bacterial growth on wounds when compared with the bacterial growth on the control wounds (not treated with antibiotics).