Dear Editor:

In reference to the article by Parsons et al published in the August 2005 issue of WOUNDS [Parsons D, Bowler PG, Myles V, Jones S. Silver antimicrobial dressings in wound management: a comparison of antibacterial, physical, and chemical characteristics. WOUNDS. 2005;17(8):222–232.], we have come upon several shortcomings of the tests and misleading conclusions. We point out 3 as follows:

Theoretically, different types of surgical wound dressings serve many functions: protecting the wound from trauma and contamination, reducing the risk of postoperative hematoma and seroma formation, providing compression of dead space, preventing heat and fluid loss, absorbing exudate, limiting wound disruption, and providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance.¹ Since no single dressing exemplifies all of these attributes, the characteristics of a particular surgical incision must be assessed to determine which goals are most important.

The 2 cases presented here represent extremes in the presentation of malignant transformation in chronic wounds and serve as important reminders of the need for wound care clinicians to aggressively evaluate and manage chronic wounds of any etiology that follow a stagnant or progressive course.