Silver sulfadiazine belongs to a class of drugs known as sulfa antibiotics. Silver sulfadiazine works by stopping the growth of bacteria that may infect an open wound. This helps to decrease the risk of the bacteria spreading to surrounding skin, or to the blood where it can cause a serious blood infection (sepsis). This is mostly used for the treatments of second and third degree burns. It is also used to cure other shallow, large-area wounds such as abrasions.