Abstract: The use of silver is increasing rapidly in the management of infected wounds and wounds at risk for infection. This 5-patient case series reviews the results of a pilot study designed to determine efficacy and safety of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT; V.A.C.® Therapy™, KCI, San Antonio, Tex) with the new silver foam dressing (V.A.C.® GranuFoam® Silver™ Dressing, KCI). Data on wound progression and the primary endpoints—time to clear infection, time to wound closure, and time to discharge from hospital—are detailed in this manuscript. For the 5 patients treated with NPWT and the silver foam dressing, the mean time for treatment was 13.00 ± 3.39 days and the mean time to patient discharge was 16.00 ± 6.63 days. Wounds were clear of clinical signs of infection in 7.00 ± 1.58 days and closed in 19.20 ± 8.76 days.

Abstract: A wound care program with trained “field” specialists (RNs and LVNs) to assess wounds and prepare management plans for patients and residents in long-term care, skilled nursing, and home care has been developed. To communicate effectively with a surgical wound care specialist (board-certified plastic surgeon), a communication tool (electronic patient record and digital wound photographs transmitted as e-mail) was created. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of wound evaluations based on records and images electronically transmitted by a consultant as the same consultant subsequently verified the evaluations during direct encounters with the patient. From 2003 through 2005, 120 patients were seen during the course of telemedicine and subsequent direct consultations. In only 2 cases (1.67%), upon physical examination, the surgeon changed the previously established diagnosis and management plan. Telemedicine consultations provide accurate chronic wound assessmen

Abstract: Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of a novel super-oxidized solution (SOS; Dermacyn® Wound Care, Oculus Innovative Sciences, Petaluma, Calif, USA) compared with a standard treatment (10% povidone iodine solution [PI]) in treating diabetic foot lesions. Research and design methods: This was an open-label, nonrandomized study. Patients had type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus and grades 2–3 infected foot ulcers according to the University of Texas classification. Patients were alternately assigned to receive treatment with either SOS (n = 110) or PI (n = 108) with daily dressing changes. Samples were taken from the lesions at baseline and during elective surgery carried out after clinical evidence of infection control. Outcome measures included reduction in bacterial load from the lesion, healing time, and incidence of skin reactions. Results: The baseline number of bacterial strains at study entry was similar between the 2 groups. During final elective operative treatment,

Abstract: The treatment of osteomyelitis is multifactorial and requires surgical debridement of the infected bone as well as the use of systemic antimicrobials for an extended period of time. Traditionally, these wounds are packed open to allow healing by secondary intent, and the dressing has only a passive action. The case reported here employs the use of an interactive silver packing strip that facilitated healing because of its antimicrobial activity for which the authors believe further evaluation is justified.