Contact Hypersensitivity to Topical Antimicrobial and Antifungal Agents.

To find out the incidence of hypersensitivity to antimicrobial drugs patch tests with various commercially available antimicrobial agents were carried out in 112 patients suspected of contact sensitivity to these substances. Eighty eight patients showed positive reaction to one or more drugs. H incidence of contact sensitivity was observed with neomycin (48%), nitrofurazone (460/o) and bromsalicyl chloranilide (45%), while gentian violet gentamicin and povidone iodine were found to be the least sensitizers (5%, 6% and 70/o - respectively). Multiple hypersensitivity (four or more drugs) was observed in 25 patients and a large number of them had ulcers at the time of study or in the past.