Silver Sulfadiazine

What is Silver Sulfadiazine

Silver sulfadiazine is a topical antiinfective agent used to prevent and treat infections of wounds caused by second- and third-degree burns.

Silver sulfadiazine possesses activity against both bacteria and yeast, while mafenide (Sulfamylon(R)) is active only against bacteria.

In addition, silver sulfadiazine does not inhibit carbonic anhydrase (CA) as does mafenide and therefore can be used in situations in which CA inhibitors are contraindicated. Also, unlike silver nitrate, silver sulfadiazine does not stain dressings and tissues. Silver sulfadiazine was approved by the FDA in 1973.

Brand Name

• Silvadene
• SSD
• SSD AF
• Thermazene

Indications & Dosage

• Acinetobacter calcoaceticus
• burn wound infection
• burns
• Candida albicans
• Citrobacter sp.
• Corynebacterium diphtheriae
• Enterobacter cloacae
• Enterobacter sp.
• Enterococcus sp.
• Escherichia coli
• Klebsiella sp.
• Morganella morganii
• Proteus mirabilis
• Proteus vulgaris
• Providencia rettgeri
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Serratia sp.
• Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA)
• Staphylococcus epidermidis
• Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
• Streptococcus sp.

Per the manufacturer, this drug has been shown to be active against most strains of the following microorganisms either in vitro and/or in clinical infections: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Candida albicans, Citrobacter sp., Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter sp., Enterococcus sp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Morganella morganii, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia rettgeri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia sp., Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Streptococcus sp.

NOTE: The safety and effectiveness in treating clinical infections due to organisms with in vitro data only have not been established in adequate and well-controlled clinical trials.

For the prevention and treatment of burn wound infection due to susceptible organisms in patients with second- and third-degree burns

Side Effects

• agranulocytosis
• aplastic anemia
• erythema multiforme
• exfoliative dermatitis
• hemolysis
• hemolytic anemia
• hepatic necrosis
• hepatitis
• interstitial nephritis
• leukopenia
• photosensitivity
• pruritus
• rash
• skin discoloration
• skin necrosis
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• superinfection
• thrombocytopenia
• toxic epidermal necrolysis

Monitoring Parameters

• CBC with differential
• glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity
• LFTs
• platelet count
• serum creatinine/BUN

Contraindications

• breast-feeding
• children
• G6PD deficiency
• hematological disease
• hepatic disease
• infants
• intramuscular injections
• leukopenia
• neonates
• porphyria
• pregnancy
• renal disease
• renal impairment
• sulfonamide hypersensitivity
• thrombocytopenia

Interactions

• Collagenase
• Sulfacetamide
• Sulfacetamide; Sulfur