Antimicrobial mixtures used to store harvested skin : Antimicrobial activities tested at refrigerator (4°C) temperatures

Tissue culture media used by skin and tissue banks to store tissue were tested, with and without antimicrobial mixtures, for their ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria during incubation at refrigerator temperatures. Reductions in bacterial load were found after incubation at 4°C in both the basal tissue culture media with and without the addition of antimicrobial mixtures. The presence of antimicrobials enhanced the degree and rapidity of reduction. Variations occurred among the different formulations, with or without added antimicrobials. No one formulation for either the basal tissue culture medium or antimicrobial mixture was ideal. Methods described in this study can be used to establish optimum basal medium and antimicrobial mixture formulations for general use by skin and tissue banks.