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Silver sulfadiazine

Clinical data
Trade names	Silvadene
Other names	(4-Amino-N-2-pyrimidinylbenzenesulfonamidato-NN,01)-silver, sulfadiazine silver, silver (I) sulfadiazine, 4-amino-N-(2-pyrimidinyl)benzenesulfonamide silver salt
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a682598
Pregnancy category	B (not recommended in late pregnancy)
Routes of administration	Topical
ATC code	D06BA01 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	US: ℞-only In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	<1% (silver), 10% (sulfadiazine)
Protein binding	High (silver)
Excretion	2/3 kidney (sulfadiazine)
Identifiers
IUPAC name Silver (pyrimidin-2-yl)azanide
CAS Number	22199-08-2
PubChem CID	441244
DrugBank	DB05245
ChemSpider	390017
UNII	W46JY43EJR
KEGG	D00433
ChEBI	CHEBI:9142
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1382627
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID4048646
ECHA InfoCard	100.040.743
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C10H9AgN4O2S
Molar mass	357.14 g·mol
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
Melting point	285 °C (545 °F)
SMILES .O=S(=O)(c1ncccn1)c2ccc(N)cc2
InChI InChI=1S/C10H9N4O2S.Ag/c11-8-2-4-9(5-3-8)17(15,16)14-10-12-6-1-7-13-10;/h1-7H,11H2;/q-1;+1 Key:UEJSSZHHYBHCEL-UHFFFAOYSA-N
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Silver sulfadiazine, sold under the brand Silvadene among others, is a topical antibiotic used in partial thickness and full thickness burns to prevent infection. Tentative evidence has found other antibiotics to be more effective, and therefore it is no longer generally recommended for second-degree (partial-thickness) burns, but is still widely used to protect third-degree (full-thickness) burns.

Common side effects include itching and pain at the site of use. Other side effects include low white blood cell levels, allergic reactions, bluish grey discoloration of the skin, red blood cell breakdown, or liver inflammation. Caution should be used in those allergic to other sulfonamides. It should not be used in pregnant women who are close to delivery. It is not recommended for use in children less than two months of age.

Silver sulfadiazine was discovered in the 1960s. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic medication. In 2022, it was the 279th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 700,000 prescriptions.

Medical uses

Tentative evidence has found other antibiotics to be more effective in the healing of superficial and partial thickness burn injuries; therefore, it is no longer generally recommended. A Cochrane review from 2013 found that most of the trials that met inclusion criteria for the review had methodological shortcomings and thus are of little use in assessing the efficacy of silver sulfadiazine in the healing of burn injuries. Another Cochrane systematic review from 2010 concluded, "There is insufficient evidence to establish whether silver-containing dressings or topical agents promote wound healing or prevent wound infection". Other reviews of the evidence have also concluded, " quality of the trials was limited". Cochrane has raised concerns about delays in time to wound healing when SSD is used. In addition to concerns regarding delayed wound healing, silver sulfadiazine is associated pseudoeschar (a combination of the SSD and congealed exudate) development that makes reassessment of wound depth difficult, and requires daily reapplication. For this reason, application of silver sulfadiazine is not recommended for most burns due to altered wound appearance and the frequency of required dressing changes.

Adverse effects

Application to large areas or to severe burns may lead to systemic absorption and lead to adverse effects similar to those of other sulfonamides. About 0.1 to 1.0% of people show hypersensitivity reactions such as rashes or erythema multiforme. This reaction is known from other sulfonamides including antibacterials, thiazide diuretics, and sulfonylurea antidiabetics; but data on the likelihood of cross-allergies are inconsistent.

Incorporation of the silver ions can lead to local argyria (discoloration of the skin), especially if the treated area is exposed to ultraviolet light. Generalised argyria with silver accumulation in kidneys, liver, and retina has only been found in association with excessive long-term use, or repeated use on severe and heavily inflamed burns. Possible consequences of generalised argyria include interstitial nephritis and anemia.

Interactions

Proteases such as trypsin and clostridiopeptidase, which are contained in ointments used for the removal of dead skin on wounds, can be inhibited by silver ions if applied simultaneously. When silver sulfadiazine is absorbed in significant amounts, it can increase effects and side effects of some drugs such as vitamin K antagonists.

Pharmacokinetics

The chemical is poorly soluble, and has only very limited penetration through intact skin. However, contact with body fluids produces free sulfadiazine which can then be systemically absorbed and distributed; it undergoes glucuronidation in the liver and is also excreted unaltered in urine. Only when applied to large-area (especially second- and third-degree) burns or other lesions is absorption into the body a problem.

Society and culture

Brand names

Brand names include Silvadene (a genericized trademark), Silverex, Silverol, Silveleb, Silvazine, Flamazine, Thermazene, BurnHeal, Ebermine, Silvozin Tulle Dressing and SSD.

References

1. Singer AJ, Taira BR, Lee CC (2013). "Thermal Burns". In Marx J, Walls R, Hockberger R (eds.). Rosen's Emergency Medicine - Concepts and Clinical Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 814. ISBN 978-1455749874. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016.
2. ^ Wasiak J, Cleland H, Campbell F, Spinks A (March 2013). "Dressings for superficial and partial thickness burns". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013 (3): CD002106. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002106.pub4. hdl:10072/58266. PMC 7065523. PMID 23543513. It is impossible to draw firm and confident conclusions about the effectiveness of specific dressings, however silver sulphadiazine was consistently associated with poorer healing outcomes than biosynthetic, silicon-coated and silver dressings whilst hydrogel-treated burns had better healing outcomes than those treated with usual care.
3. ^ Heyneman A, Hoeksema H, Vandekerckhove D, Pirayesh A, Monstrey S (November 2016). "The role of silver sulphadiazine in the conservative treatment of partial thickness burn wounds: A systematic review". Burns. 42 (7): 1377–1386. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2016.03.029. hdl:1854/LU-8507323. PMID 27126813.
4. ^ "Silver Sulfadiazine". Drugs.com. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. 1 June 2008. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
5. Chung DH, Colon NC, Herndon DN (2012). "Burns". In Coran AG, Caldamone A, Adzick NS, Krummel TM, Laberge J, Shamberger R (eds.). Pediatric Surgery (7 ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 369. ISBN 978-0323091619. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016.
6. World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
7. "The Top 300 of 2022". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
8. "Silver Sulfadiazine Drug Usage Statistics, United States, 2013 - 2022". ClinCalc. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
9. Storm-Versloot MN, Vos CG, Ubbink DT, Vermeulen H (March 2010). Storm-Versloot MN (ed.). "Topical silver for preventing wound infection". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (3): CD006478. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006478.pub2. PMID 20238345.
10. Lo SF, Hayter M, Chang CJ, Hu WY, Lee LL (August 2008). "A systematic review of silver-releasing dressings in the management of infected chronic wounds". Journal of Clinical Nursing. 17 (15): 1973–1985. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.02264.x. PMID 18705778.
11. ^ Maitz P, Harish B (15 April 2016). "How to Treat: Burns". Australian Doctor. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
12. "Silver Sulfadiazine". Drugs.com. 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
13. ^ Jasek W, ed. (2007). Austria-Codex (in German). Vol. 2 (62nd ed.). Vienna: Österreichischer Apothekerverlag. pp. 3270–1. ISBN 978-3-85200-181-4.
14. ^ "Silver sulfadiazine - Drug Summary". Prescribers' Digital Reference. 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
15. "SSD Uses, Side Effects & Warnings". Drugs.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011. This source names Silvadene, SSD, SSD AF, Thermazene

• Medicine

• Silver compounds
• Sulfonamide antibiotics
• Antiseptics
• Drugs developed by Pfizer
• Pyrimidines
• World Health Organization essential medicines