Silver sulfadiazine cream is a topical medication used to prevent and treat wound infections in patients with second- and third-degree burns. It contains the antimicrobial agent silver sulfadiazine in micronized form, which is dispersed in a cream vehicle. The cream vehicle consists of white petrolatum, stearyl alcohol, isopropyl myristate, sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyl 40 stearate, propylene glycol, and water, with methylparaben 0.3% as a preservative. The cream spreads easily and can be washed off readily with water.
Positive aspects of silver sulfadiazine cream include its effectiveness in preventing and treating wound infections. However, some negative aspects of the cream include the risk of allergic reactions or other problems due to inactive ingredients. Additionally, silver sulfadiazine cream must not be used on premature babies or on newborns during the first 2 months of life because of the risk of serious side effects.
