Dear Readers: Ultrasound is vibration transmitted at a frequency > 20 KHz, the approximate upper limit of human hearing. Ultrasound has been used for diagnosis and treatment of various conditions, including skin and wound evaluations.^1,2 The first article reviewed in this month’s Evidence Corner addresses the question of whether gross ultrasound adds value as an adjunct in diagnosis and management planning for patients with traumatic wounds.

In recent years, use of silver in medical healthcare devices has seen a vast increase. This increase has been largely dominated by wound dressings. Silver sulfadiazine, which has been available for approximately 40 years, provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and has been widely used, particularly as a topical cream to manage burn infection. In the last 5 years, the number of available silver-containing dressings has increased. These dressings are used primarily on chronic wounds and in clinical practice are regularly applied for periods of time up to and in excess of 4 weeks.

The effects of coherent and noncoherent light in biological tissues and cells have been the subject of many studies.^1–7 Wound healing and tissue repair processes are complex series of events including clotting, inflammation, granulation tissue formation, epithelization, collagen synthesis, and tissue remodeling.⁸ These events play an important role in wound healing, which is a serious issue for all clinicians. Timely healing establishes tissue integrity quickly and effectively in most patients.

SURGICEPT™ Waterless Handwash is Effective Against Viruses

Healthpoint (Fort Worth, Tex) announces that SURGICEPT™ Waterless Surgical Hand Antiseptic, the latest addition to the Healthpoint asepsis product line for healthcare personnel hand washing, kills viruses in addition to fighting bacteria as reported in study results presented during the 46th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy held in San Francisco, Calif, September 27–30, 2006.