Antimicrobial Activity of Silver-Containing Dressings is Influenced by Dressing Conformability with a Wound Surface
- 8/31/2005
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White et al.5 have pointed out the role of colonized and infected wounds in acting as reservoirs for resistant strains of bacteria and the risk of cross-infection within healthcare environments. To be effective across a wide range of patients, the antimicrobial activity of silver-containing barrier dressings needs to be maintained across wounds of all shapes and sizes, from uneven, shallow leg ulcers to deep pressure ulcers.
The present study demonstrates the effective bactericidal activity of a SCH dressing against antibiotic-resistant strains of 2 common wound pathogens—P. aeruginosa and S. aureus (MRSA). The ability of antimicrobial dressings to effectively control pathogens, such as MRSA, across a variety of wound types is an important step in infection control.12
Conclusion
While both silver-containing dressings are known to be effective at killing wound pathogens including MRSA in vitro,11,13 the present study indicates that antimicrobial effectiveness in the clinical setting may be influenced by the physical properties of the dressings themselves.
These findings suggest that the SCH dressing is likely to provide more widespread antimicrobial protection at the wound-dressing interface than the NSC dressing studied here. This difference can be attributed to variations in dressing design and in the ability to conform well to wound surfaces. This study suggests that a variety of factors are involved in ensuring the most effective use of silver-containing dressings for the management and prevention of wound infection.
References
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