Merbromin - Wikipedia
Merbromin (marketed as Mercurochrome, Merbromine, Mercurocol, Sodium mercurescein, Asceptichrome, Supercrome, Brocasept and Cinfacromin) is an organomercuric disodium salt compound used as a topical antiseptic for minor cuts and scrapes and as a biological dye. Readily available in most countries, it is no longer sold in Switzerland, Brazil, France, Iran, Germany, Denmark, or the United States, due to its mercury content.[ 1] [ 2]
Merbromin's best-known use is as a topical antiseptic to treat minor wounds, burns, and scratches.[ 3] It is also used in the antisepsis of the umbilical cord,[ 4] and the antisepsis of wounds with inhibited scar formation, such as neuropathic ulcers and diabetic foot sores.[ 5] When applied on a wound, it stains the skin a distinctive carmine red, which can persist through repeated washings. Due to its persistence and to its lethality to bacteria, Merbromin is useful on infections of the fingernail or toenail.
In 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reclassified merbromin from "generally recognized as safe" to "untested," due to a lack of recent studies or updated supporting information.[ 6] Consequently, its use in the United States has been superseded by other agents (e.g., povidone iodine, benzalkonium chloride, chloroxylenol).
